#and i mean more sadly like. my grandfather died before he could teach me anything more of santeria

[jojotier]

My grandfather was a pagan priest, my mother's a Catholic witch, and I'm an atheist mostly because I reckon that if there is a God he'll appreciate the irony

[jinxedpanda4life]

Criminal Investigator AU HC

I would first like to start off by saying thank you to everyone. 

I honestly did not expect the response I got to my Damirae Hospital AU HC list. 

When I first woke up and checked tumblr ~13 hours after posting I had a holy shit moment. 

I felt powerful, should I? Probably not. 

But! Since I am noticing a lack of AUs in the fandom, whether on Tumblr, AO3 or FanFiction.net, whatever AU comes to my mind I shall jot down some hcs for! 

Thank you all once again!

(Also trying format changes for easy reading)

(Also Also, I am thinking the story is less fluid but more episodic)

Let’s get started:

- So I’m thinking this is some FBI, SVU, and FBI BAU mixture or whatever. Basically all the great shows we know in love shoved together. From Bones to Criminal Minds and everything in between.

- Special Agent (Dr.) Raven Roth is a lead interrogator and is the resident psych consult. 

She’s been educated in interrogation, behavioral science, psychology, forensic pathology, and criminology. 

She has combat training (hand to hand), she carries (for her job) a gun and at all times has a knife/dagger on her person (people have stopped trying to figure out where she keeps them). 

Her father was/is crime boss T. Trigon who is currently imprisoned. 

Was born in the states but fled with her mother to Romania when she was a newborn.

When Trigon found them he killed Arella and took Raven, she was abut 9 - 10 years old.

She took her mother’s last name when she turned 18. 

Knows two languages besides English; French, Romanian, Romani (various dialects but knows multiple), Greek and Latin

On more than one occasion some goon of her father’s tries to recruit her, every time she kicks their ass. (Damian was there for the most recent (he was still green though))

Lives by herself in a decent sized apartment, has a gun safe (gun safety is important!), a cat (Nevermore), and is a regular at a 24/7 bookstore &/ cafe

Can usually be found wearing some kind of jacket, sweater, cardigan

She once helped save some kids (Melvin, Tommy & Teether) and is now their surrogate aunt, she has photos of them at her desk @ work. (Damian assumes/ed that they were her kids)

She also, when she can, hangs out and babysits them on occasion.

Raven is part of a team consisting of Dick Grayson (unit leader), Kori Anders, Garfield Logan, Jaime Reyes, and very recently Damian Wayne 

- Special Agent Damian Wayne is a lead investigator (he is still a bit fresh to the unit), translator, sniper and combat coordinator

He’s been educated in martial arts, explosives, hand to hand combat, close range combat, and combat (basically he knows how to kill you 9 ways to Sunday), also, behavioral science, computer science, criminology, linguistics and language. 

He can easily translate (into English): Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Bengali, French, Polish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, he can also learn any language you put in front of him and know the basics within a day

(Having lived in many places around the world he needed to be able to speak and understand in order to survive) (wow dramatic much?)

His father is currently the director (or deputy director, whatever floats ya boat) of the FBI.

His mother was essentially a secret agent who worked for various agencies around the globe. (deceased)

His grandfather was the leader of a, um, well to be honest, terrorist agency. (deceased)

Was sent to live with his father when he was 15 (when his mother died) and has been in the states ever since

Lives alone, he has an upscale apartment that he truthfully spends little time in, has multiple locations in the home where various weapons are stored, his place has a very cold atmosphere

Is either in proper work attire or in work out clothing, there is no in between

Tries and fails not to take work home with him

He sees a therapist (who says he should probably try investing in relationships with the people at his job)

His only “friend” (he hates calling him that, more like close acquaintance) is Jonathan Kent who was in his class at the FBI Academy, Jon works in a white collar crime department in Metropolis

The only person he actually kind of sort of doesn’t dislike is in fact Raven Roth, she’s a no bull shit person, he likes that

He may know Grayson because of how he’s Bruce’s kind of son but it does not mean he likes him

He finds Logan annoying as all hell, even if he is somewhat useful

He picked a fight with Reyes first day and regretted it (he will never admit that), he respects him

Anders is overly friendly in his opinion, kind of acts like a secretary with all that positivity and grates his nerves, he tolerates her

(Unlike last time I am not going in detail about the rest of the team, this will be brief)

- Supervisory Special Agent Dick Grayson (Unit Chief) is basically Dick Grayson with a big fancy title but all the same skills

He is also obsessed with Slade Wilson and Red X (who is Jason in this)

- Supervisory Special Agent Kori Anders is a lead investigator and is also a go to for undercover work

- Special Agent Garfield Logan is a lead interrogator, is head of the unit’s K-9 unit and kind of has a thing for Roth (which she does not reciprocate) 

- Special Agent Jaime Reyes is a tactical analyst, tech analyst and is head of the unit’s SWAT team, he does not do well with talking with people, or change

The Scarab is a computing program that Jaime created himself

STORY START:

- When Damian first joins the team there is another member, Special Agent Terra Markov, she is revealed as a sleeper agent but she aligns herself with the team and sadly is shot and killed in a fire fight

- A couple weeks after Agent Markov’s death everyone is talking about what they are doing for an upcoming holiday, Damian says probably nothing, Raven invites him to spend it with her and her “niece” and “nephews,” he declines

- About a day after the holiday Damian is home looking through case files when someone knocks on his door

-- It is Raven. He asks how she knew where he lived, she says she asked Dick, she also says that she knows how it feels to be alone and that he may be insufferable but it doesn’t mean he can’t have a friend

-- His response is saying he isn’t the kind to make friends with co workers

-- “I’m not asking to be your friend Damian, I am asking you to be his,” She reveals a small black great dane puppy “I know that other people aren’t really your thing, but having someone in your corner and waiting for you is always nice, even if it isn’t human.”

-- Damian invites her in, names the dog Titus and thanks her

-- “Just make sure no one tries to kidnap and kill you, we don’t need you to go full blown John Wick.” Damian has no idea who that is. Raven tells him it is an action movie series that he should watch. She leaves. He does watch them that night with Titus on his lap. (after having gone to the local pet supply store to get everything he needs) The action is inaccurate but he enjoyed the movies none the less, and decides that he probably would go into John Wick mode if someone hurt Titus.

- SA Roth and SA Wayne are sent to a high security federal prison to interrogate a prisoner, who refuses to speak

-- When they get into the interview room the prisoner does start to speak, but not in English and not in a language Damian is fluent in

-- Raven on the other hand immediately responds to the prisoner (shocking the prisoner and Damian) “He is speaking Romani though not the dialect of those overseas, he learned it here.” 

-- Damian is fascinated by it and they are essentially switching roles the entire time

-- They leave having successfully interviewing the prisoner, and Raven leaves behind a written list of common words in Romani so that they can possibly communicate with the prisoner better

-- As soon as they are on the plane back Damian asks her a myriad of questions from “How many languages do you know?” to “When did you learn that?” and even “Are you a spy? Sleeper agent? Part of a terrorist cell?”

-- “Not as many as you, when I was a child, if I was part of any of that you wouldn’t be asking.” The rest of the trip is spent with her teaching him Romani and even some Romanian

- Dick & Kori eventually get together and after a while they break up. Kori takes some vacation time. At the same Dick has been temporarily reassigned to another unit.

-- Chaos ensues

-- Garfield thinks he should be the interim unit chief, Jaime thinks the same, as does, you guessed it, Damian (Raven doesn’t want to she is comfortable with her role on the team)

-- In the end they are assigned an interim unit chief, SSA Jason Todd, who usually works overseas on covert op missions (not gonna lie this could easily flow into a Jayrae thing)

-- Everyone kind of falls into line, except Damian, Damian doesn’t like him for two reasons

1) He doesn’t act serious about the job 24/7

2) He has been flirting and hitting on Raven the moment he stepped into their sector 

-- Damian hates the names he gives her; “Little Bird,” “Sunshine,” “Princess,” “Rae,” (no one calls her Rae, not even Garfield, at least not after the incident) etc.

-- (Little does Damian know, Jason and Raven have worked together before and are actually friends)

-- This all comes to a head when Damian and Jason are the only ones still in the office after a tiring case.

          “You shouldn’t do that you know.”

           “Do what? All I am doing right now is contemplating where Grayson                    keeps the liquor.”

           “Call Raven all those names, she doesn’t like it.”

           “Really? Because if you haven’t noticed she hasn’t exactly asked me to                stop.”

           “She gets uncomfortable, maybe not to the extent of asking you to stop,              but she tenses up and her body language becomes slightly more                        agitated.”

          “You seem to pay a lot of attention in how she reacts to thinks baby brat.             Seems to me that you like her.”

           “Of course I like her, she is a good friend and reliable teammate.”

           “No, you like like her.”

           “That presumption is juvenile.”

           “But you don’t deny it.”

           “Tch.”

-- If anything after that conversation Jason seems to doubled his advances. Which confuses both Damian and Raven. Damian because it is inappropriate and HR will be hearing about this. Raven because she was under the assumption that she and Jason were just friends. (Jason actually does have genuine intentions but is like 60% just egging Damian on)

-- Eventually (far too long for Damian’s tastes), both Dick and Kori return. At first it is sooooooo awkward. Like mom and dad divorced have shared custody but don’t hate each other but also cannot look each other in the eye. ((Was that a mouthful? Good)) No one can really look at each other the same? Though they do have a meeting to sort it out, get everything out in the open.

- Raven’s annual kidnapping/attempt to convert her/torture comes almost exactly one year after Damian joined the team (this is his 2nd time dealing with this)

-- This time Damian is prepared. By prepared I mean Raven doesn’t even leave her apartment before she is taken to safety. 

    “Damian what is going on?”

    “Christmas came early this year that’s what.”

    “Christmas? What in gods name are you talking about.”

    “God has no dealings in this matter.”

    “You do realize you are sounding like a bad action movie? It is not even 6 am and I am in your car going somewhere, I have had little to no sleep and I am barely dressed. What is going on?” Damian hadn’t payed attention to what clothing Raven was wearing. His mind was on one goal. Find Raven, keep Raven safe. His eyes glanced off the road enough to realize she was indeed not properly dressed. Her body was merely adorned with an oversized tee-shirt, tiny barely there shorts and a pair of fluffy socks.

    “I apologize, it appears in my haste I did not leave you time to properly clothe yourself. As to why you are here, it seems your father and his people have shortened their waiting time this year from one year to a little more than ten months.” Ravens hands fisted her shirt. “This time I was prepared,” last time he was still new to everything, last time he made mistakes, this time there will be no mistakes. “Since our last encounter with your demon, so to speak, I have been setting in place precautions and safety measures to ensure Nevermore and yours’ safety. I have also been tracking the movements of his big players. If any came close I would mark it down. Multiple are entering the city at this moment. Seeing as you we taken last time I have made plans to ensure that will not happen again.” The car made a snap turn down an unfamiliar street pulling Raven from her clouded gaze.

    “So I am going to be okay this time?” Her voice was faint and restraining against hope.

    “You’re going to be okay.” His hand lightly held hers. Only to stop the shaking, they told themselves, only to make everything better. “Nevermore is with Titus at my place being watched by a friend of mine. I have already walked Grayson through everything we will not be expected at work this week, but we can work remotely.”

     “We?”

     “I’m not going to leave you. Ever.”

-- ((Sorry for the blocks of text))

-- As Raven finds out they are at one of Damian’s safe houses. The one least likely to be tied to her. It is fully stocked with food, has security cameras and if needed weapons. The only problem is that the only clothes there are Damians.

    “Thought of everything huh?”

     “I was following their pattern, I expected to have more time to acquire clothing for you.” (he was looking away and blushing, you cannot tell me he wasn’t)

-- Raven just resigns herself to wearing Damian’s clothes, yes his brain does stop working for a hot second when he sees her in only his clothes.

-- All attempts to try and retrieve codename: Gem of Scath are foiled (like some good math)

-- So many bonding moments happen. Cuddling (pure accident *rolls eyes*), eating together, inside jokes, etc. At one point Damian answers her phone (he disabled and disconnected the tracer) to one of the mob guys after them.

    “Hello?”

     “You can hide the gem but we will find her.”

     “I’m sorry, is there a jewel you are looking for? I don’t think I have and any jewels that I am coveting.”

     “We know you are with her! It is but a matter of time until we collect her.”

     “I hope you do eventually find whatever you are looking for sir, but I haven’t the slightest idea the gem you speak of. If you could give me a physical description? Is it a ruby, diamond, onyx? Is it round or more of a pear shape?”

    “...”

    “Well, I will look for it here, but I do not believe I possess what you speak of. Will you give me your number so I can call you back?” (The line cuts dead, and Raven can be seen laughing in the background, the phone was on speaker)

-- Once the team tracks down, arrests and interrogates all of the parties working for Trigon; Raven and Nevermore can go home. Though both are reluctant in their own way. Nevermore has grown attached to Titus, and Raven well Raven has feelings. Sadly, as Raven knows, feelings are dangerous to have in their line of work. 

-- Look at Dick and Kori they were together and then they fell apart and the team almost imploded.

-- What about Trigon if he finds out about Damian and how she feels towards him? What kind of danger will he be in then?

-- Like all of her feelings Raven puts them in a box and locks the box away. Not just figuratively, in her safe there is a box with: post its, torn papers, journals, etc. That box has a lock on it. Whenever she has a new feeling that she cannot ignore, like her feelings towards Special Agent Wayne, she takes out the box and writes her feelings down. They can range from a single sentence to pages worth. (Her feelings towards Damian fill a small notebook she has on hand). Once she has written all of her feelings out she places them in the box, locks said box and then places the locked box in her safe, which she then locks.

-- Is this a healthy way to cope with her feelings? Maybe not. But, it is way better than how Damian deals with his. Violence. Also art but violence comes first.

- At this point both Damian and Raven have caught the feelings (highly contagious I hear), which makes this a little awkward and a little not awkward. For one everyone but Raven knows how Damian feels towards her. He does things for her and with her that no one else gets the privilege to.

-- To list a few:

--- He brings her tea whenever he gets himself coffee or tea

--- He talks to her about what he does outside of work, even about his kind of friend definitely not enemy, Jon.

--- They socialize outside of work. Watching bad movies (some of them are not that bad), going to the park with Titus (they once got Nevermore in a leash and walked her), meeting each other before and after work to get breakfast or dinner.

--- He doesn’t glare at her

--- He allows physical contact between the two

--- He worries about her (hello he created an entire plan so that she wouldn’t get kidnapped, with contingencies and everything, garfield would be lucky to get a plan)

--- His eyes light up when she talks, or enters a room, or you know exists in his vicinity

--- He actually smiles around her (Dick caught him smiling once at Raven and he though Damian was having a stroke)

-- Even though everyone knows Damian likes Raven, very few know that Raven likes Damian back. (this only includes; Kori, Dick, Jason, Titus, Nevermore, and Melvin) She does do certain things that give herself away just like Damian.

--The list:

--- When Damian gets frustrated or angry she puts a hand on his arm, or holds his hand

--- She laughs at things he does (light chuckles, or little giggles)

--- She will talk to him about his interests and actively tries to have conversations with him about things unrelated to work.

--- She blushes when he does something unexpected (like a compliment)((Mostly she tries to hide it until he isn’t looking at her))(((Kori has caught the blush before)))

-- Luckily for them it does not take some cliche ‘One suddenly becomes in danger and the other one saves them only to be close to death and then they admit their love for one another and promise to go on a date when the other is healed’ situation. 

-- Damian actually asks Raven out after being tipped of by Jason and Dick that she may like him back. Damian finds out when they have days off at the same time and asks her while leaving work.

   “Raven, you have this weekend off correct?”

   “Yeah I do. I wasn’t planning on doing anything though. Did you have something in mind?”

    “Um, yeah, heh, I was wondering if you would do me the pleasure of going to dinner with me tomorrow.” *Awkwardly rubs back of neck*

    “Like a date or two friends going to dinner?” *Thinks she sounds harsh* “I am honestly fine with either since we are friends.” *nervous smile*

     “Like a date if that is okay with you of course.”

     “Yeah, yeah totally that is totally okay with me.” *Starts sounding like a teenage girl who only knows about 10 words, because she’s nervous*

      “Good, I’ll be by your place around 1830, if that is okay?” *nerve central, the central nervous system could never*

       “Yup that is totally fine with me.”

       “Great.”

       “Good.” The elevator opens in the knick of time.

       “See you tomorrow evening Agent Roth. Have a good night.”

        “You too, Agent Wayne, you too.”

-- When Damian does pick her up he feels like his brain is going to explode. She looks absolutely breathtaking. This is just like all the other times they’ve gone to dinner, except this restaurant is slightly fancier and they are on a date.

-- Raven feels as though all her emotions are leaking out at once, she has no idea what she is doing.

-- In the end they have a good time and decide to do it again. Damian does bring up that all of the breakfasts and dinners they regularly do could now be considered dates. Raven does not oppose that switch at all.

- Fast forward a handful of years (like 3?), Damian and Raven are moved in together (Nevermore and Titus are happy about this, they even allow the humans to adopt another pet, a cat named Alfred). Damian is now Supervisory Special Agent Wayne and is in charge of their unit. Raven has retired from field work and now works at the FBI academy and at Virginia State University. In about 6 months Damian is going to propose and Raven will say yes. Their wedding will be small but happy and full of life.

Once again I would like to thank everyone and all the support the previous post got.

Like last time if anything is disjointed, out of place or seems wrong, please go ahead and tell me. I have been working on this since the last one, but have finally had the time to finish it.

I hope the new year will bring us all some good. Possibly more head canons to come.

[diddlesanddoodles]

DUMPLING ch 39

(Chapter warning: Discussions of death and gore)

See bottom of the chapter for bonus art and a new addition to the Dumpling Playlist. 

Farris lead them out of the tent and into the kitchen camp and they were greeted by the absurd sight of all of the kitchen staff surrounding a group of seven or so humans, most of whom looked absolutely terrified, and then one lone human who stood outside the group was waving a sword in the air as he angrily shouted at Bart. “...WILL NOT LET ME THROUGH THIS INSTANT, I WILL RUN YOU THROUGH!”

“Through what? My big toe?” Bart asked with a laugh. He could not look less intimidated by the man if it had been a dust bunny shouting at him.

Farris let Nonna down and she snorted at the sight of them, calling out, “Riley, stop swinging that thing around, it’s not a damn toy! We’ve already made a piss poor showing and I won’t have you insulting these good people any more that you already have. Put that poker away and shut your gob or I’ll be telling your mother she needs to teach you better manners.”

The so name Riley turned to look at Nonna, eyes wide and disbelieving. “Nonna! You aren’t hurt are you?”

“I’m fine you great cow pie!” she snapped back at him and earning a few snickers from some of the kitchen staff. “Now do as I said and put that damn thing away.”

Riley tightened his grip, looking back and forth between the giants around him and then back to Nonna before looking up at Farris. “Tell your men to back away first.”

Farris regarded the little squire with a flat look, displeased at being given orders and especially by someone so annoying, but conceded by glancing at Bart and jerking his head. Bart nodded and began to usher everyone back to their tasks. “C’mon now, let ‘em be, lads. Back to work, the lot of ye. We’ve had our fun.”

Avery made a long disappointed whine. “Aw, come on now. I was this close t’gettin’ that lil’ fella in blue to piss himself.”

Riley watched the giants leave with suspicious and wary eyes, but once they were a comfortable enough distance away from the group of humans, he sheathed his sword. He turned his attention back to Nonna, but paused, eyes shifting to stare behind Farris where Yale stood with Nenani cupped in his hands. The man’s eyes widened and he shifted nervously for a moment before abruptly bending himself in half. “Y-your Grace!”

The other humans looked at Riley in surprise, following his trail of sight and when they all saw Nenani, they mimicked him and dropped into dramatic bows with mutterings of “Your Grace.”

Yale snickered, lowering his head to whisper to Nenani. “Princess Dumplin’...”

“Nooo...” She whined. Her face turned red with mortification when she heard Avery and Kol both add their own flamboyant your grace’s from across the yard. Farris glanced back at her with a raised eyebrow and she frowned back at him miserably. “Please make them stop...”

But he just grinned at her and shrugged.

“Well, you heard her,” Nonna told the group. “Stop with all that silly nonsense. You’re embarrassing the poor girl.”

Riley’s face made several jumps between conflicting emotions before finally giving a small bow and muttering an almost inaudible, “My apologies.”

Nonna nodded in satisfaction before turning to look up at Farris with a pleasant smile and patted his boot. “Thank you for help, Farris, you’re a peach. But I believe I can manage them from here.”

“As ye say,” he replied and stepped back, crossing his arms. Nonna looked up and waved a beckoning hand at Yale.

“Go on and let the girl loose, young man. We’ve come all this way so we might as well give her all these presents we’ve trudged up along with us.”

Nenani perked up. “Presents? For me?”

Nonna regarded her with a sly grin. “Well what did you think it mean to pay homage?”

Yale laughed as he let Nenani down and she hurried to catch up to Nonna as she reached the group of humans. Many of them were pulling the packs off their backs and rummaging inside, pulling out objects, some wrapped and some not. And though they all were still sending wary glances towards the giants who were still watching them all from their work stations, the humans seemed excited to be presenting their offerings. Nenani did not know how to feel about it all. It felt strange to suddenly be in the company of many folks her size, having become so accustomed to living among giants and even more so when they were throwing gifts at her.

But so long as they kept their your grace’s to themselves, she supposed it was all in good fun.

Riley stepped up to Nonna, bending to whisper something into her ear to which Nonna nodded. Riley was a tall young man, dressed in a long dark gray gambeson coat, and green trousers. He look only a few years older than Jae. The leather of his belt was oiled and shining with a silver buckle of intricate silver. He wore a short stubble beard and his hair was a fluffy mob of dusty brown and his face was set firmly into a scowl. His hand still rested on the hilt of his sword as he cast his gaze around the camp. They lingered on Farris and Yale and neither giant missed the way he was looking at them. Yale wiggled his eyebrows at him, daring the human to try something, but all Riley did was scowl back at him.

“Now, my girl,” Nonna said, gently taking Nenani’s arm and guiding her towards the group. “Most of these gifts are going to be things you don’t really need and never asked for...”

“Nonna!” Riley barked at the woman in indignation; momentarily turning his head from the giants.

“...but I can assure you that they were all made with love and care and the finest craftsmanship we possess.” Nonna finished, ignoring Riley. One by one, each of the group stepped up and held out their offerings with a short greeting. Thankfully they kept it informal. Among the gifts was a light green cloak with delicate embroidery along the bottom, a brass broach in the shape of a dragonfly, a roll of beautifully tanned leather, a ring with a polished purple stone, and a small wooden box inlaid with different colored wood to create a beautiful pattern on the lid like a string twirling in never ending loops and knots. They were all beautifully made gifts and Nenani stared dumbly at the pile, taken aback and oddly humbled.

“And Riley has one for you as well,” Nonna said, looking to Riley with a nod. The young man reached behind himself and unclipped something from his belt, pulling it out and handing to Nonna. It was a sheathed dagger. The leather had been dyed a faint green color and near the top, pressed into material was a familiar symbol; the Thorn guard crest. Nenani stared at it, feeling a strange nostalgic pull.

“But first,” said the old woman, her voice soft and oddly serious. Her eyes were searching and hopeful. “I have an important question for you; Where is Hayron?”

Nenani stared at Nonna for a moment, a sinking feeling in her belly, and then after a moment said, “He died. Or rather...he was killed.”

There was a collective noise of despair and the group of humans all looked heartbroken at the news. They all bent their heads and muttered something Nenani could not make out. It did not sound like the common tongue at all.

Nonna nodded her understanding. “I had feared as much,” she said, eyes incredibly sad. “When news reached us that you and your mother were alive, but no news of Hayron...”

She heaved a great sigh, suddenly looking her age. “It is a great loss. I would have very much liked to have been able to see your father one more time. So many things I would have told him. So many apologies I would have made. Your grandfather was never the same after he was forced to give his son up. It tore at him, terribly.” She looked up at Nenani and smiled sadly, regret and longing on he face. “How he wished he could have had a chance to meet his grandchild. This broach here, the dragonfly...”

She reached for the broach from atop the pile of offerings and pinned it to the front of Nenani’s thick wool dress. “...is the symbol of familial love. He had this made for me after my daughter was born and I’ve kept it all these years. The notion to one day give it to one of my granddaughters crossed my mind, but they fight over every little thing. So, when I heard you were alive...it seems only fitting you should have it.”

She rested a bony hand over the broach, over Nenani’s heart. Riley stepped up to her.

“Who killed him?” he asked. The young man’s eyes were intense everything about him was pulled taut with withheld rage. The hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightened and his knuckles were white. “Who killed Hayron?”

“His name is Aidus,” she said to the man.

“Aidus...I know that name,” Nonna said, looking pensive.

Something in the back of her mind gave her pause and she looked back to Farris. Almost as though she sought his permission to say anything more. He seemed to sense her apprehension.

“It’s up t’ye how much ye wanna share, lil’un,” he told her. “But I’ll say this: better fer everyone t’be knowin’ about that fucker. He ain’t gone after the tribes yet, but best not assume that won’t change.”

She did not want to tell them about Aidus being the one to have killed Thadeus and starting the war. It did not feel like something she could tell them. Who knew what sort of the trouble that knowledge would stir. But the rest...the rest she could. After seeing the pain on their collective faces at the news of her father’s death, she almost felt like she owed them the story and the chance to share her loss with someone who shared it was alluring.

“He was after Mama,” she explained. “But Papa tried to fight him off. Aidus killed him and stole my mother away. But she escaped him a year ago. She said he threatened to kill my little brother.”

There was a shift among the group.

“Brother?” Nonna asked.

“Mama was with child when she was taken,” she replied.

There were hushed murmurs among the humans and someone from the back asked, “We have a prince?”

Nonna waved them off with a hand, frowning at them. “Quiet you hens!” She turned back to Nenani with an expression of longing. “We had not heard of your mother bearing a son.”

“She named him Haiyer.” The old woman was silent for a long moment, her eyes frozen as they peered at Nenani. Then she rose a trembling hand to her face, covering her mouth as the emotion took her. “...Haiyer?”

“Nonna?” Riley asked, his nervousness forgotten as he went to her side, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Are you alright?”

She nodded, wiping at her eyes. “Yes, of course. I am all right, my boy. Don’t fret.”

Riley looked back at Nenani. “Why would this man do all of this? Kill Hayron and take the princess?”

“Aidus is the man who Mama was supposed to marry,” Nenani replied. “But she fell in love with Papa instead.”

Nonna gripped Riley’s shoulder as sudden recognition struck her and she gasped. “Tarliene’s eldest boy!” she cried, eyes wide. “The King’s advisor! His son was named Aidus! I thought I knew that name!” She turned to the man in blue, the one Avery had been trying to scare into wetting himself. “Pip, do you remember if Aidus was one of the Ruby order? They were the mages sent to Riftside, correct?”

“If I remember correctly, they were sent in as back up,” he replied. “I’m fairly confident that if the Aidus that her grace...er, my apologies. If the Aidus she speaks of is Tarliene’s son, then he would have been there.”

“Aidus was a fire mage. Vennor’s apprentice,” confirmed another of the humans. He was older and gray haired. A thin pale scar rang the length of face on his right side. He looked to Nonna. “He was a member of the Ruby Order. A highly skilled fire mage.”

Above them all, Farris snorted. “I’ve met ‘im briefly. And he don’t look a thing like any fire mage I’ve ever seen.”

“My apologies, sir, but you mistake my meaning,” the man explained. “It couldn’t have been him. I saw Aidus fall at Riftside. He and two others were thrown from the cliff by Prince Mourin.”

“Ye were at Riftside?” Farris asked, the gruffness easing a little and he regarded the scarred man with a kinder eye.

“Yes, sir. Infantry captain,” said the man and gestured to his face. “S’where I got this beauty. Courtesy of one a’ yer late King’s balista’s shattering our shield wall. The prince and a few others got through after the river was set on fire and they scaled the cliff. They killed all them mages there. Not sure who, but someone ‘em got in a quick hit before they fell and it cut through the Prince’s neck and he bled out. Every soul on that cliff died that day.”

“Ye say ya saw ‘im fall,” Farris said. “He could’a survived.”

“Unlikely. That cliff is nearly 150 feet and the river may be deep there, but there’s plenty of rocks to hit on the way down.”

“Well if he’s did die at Riftside, someone forgot to tell him he’s suppose to be dead,” Yale added. “He’s attacked the castle directly twice now. Tryin’ t’get to the lil’un. Somethin’ about usin’ her to get her Mum to come back to ‘im.”

Nonna chewed on her bottom lip, mulling over all that had been said. She shook her head. “What could he possibly be after? Silvaara is no more, why fixate on Princess Aine?”

“Obsession?” Yale offered. “Revenge?”

“No,” Nenani said, something in her mind abruptly making sense. Keral had told her once that the smoke mage problem was like a puzzle to him and suddenly she was aware of just how many pieces she had. “Not revenge. Something about the gold prophecy. He...I think he thinks...it’s about him. When killed my uncle, he said that he wanted to see the dead walls rise. And then when the wyvern attacked, the only thing he said was the gold prophecy.”

“What do you mean when he killed your uncle?” Nonna asked. “Halden died in Silvaara. Alongside Haiyer and the royal family.”

“...no he didn’t. Uncle Halden didn’t die in Silvaara,” Nenani said, shaking her head. “He survived. He and some others made it to the Southlands. Where Mama and Papa and I were living. After Aidus took Mama and killed Papa, he took care of me for years. But Aidus came back. He burned everything down. And killed him.”

There was a long silence.

“Nonna,” Riley said in a quiet voice. His eyes were red. “We must hold the last rite for them. Hayron and Halden. We owe them that much at least.”

“It will take a few days to prepare for the ceremony,” Nonna told him. She turned to one of people within their group. “Jerand, how long would it take you and your brother to carve a pair of effigies?”

“Two days at least,” said an older man with a round face and bushy brown beard. “Three would be better.”

Nonna nodded. “I will speak with Warrick when we return. Could be a week or so before we could manage something half way decent. We won’t find much in the way of flowers this time of year.”

“What do you mean?” Nenani asked.

“The last rite,” Nonna explained. “For when an oath bound Thorn guard falls in the keeping of his or her oath, they are given what we call the last rite. Or full colors. We would like to give you father and uncle their last rite.”

“Didn’t grandfather have to...I forget what it’s called. Make him not a Thorn guard anymore?”

“He was relieved of his duty,” Nonna replied. “Only death can dismiss you from your oath.”

“There will be lots to be done,” said one of the group. “And so soon after Gregis.”

“More funerals,” Farris muttered unhappily.

“And what of it, giant?” Riley snarled, whirling on the kitchen master. “Do you see us criticizing how you mourn your lost?”

Farris glared at the whole group distastefully. “Y’know how many funeral’s I’ve been to since the war ended, boy? Too many. Both Vhasshalan and human. More than half didn’t even have a body to bury or t’burn. Folks speakin’ of a dead fella they didn’t know, paradin’ and weepin’ with all the pageantry and bullshit they can muster. It was never fer the sake of those closest to ‘em. Most ‘a the time it was only fer show.” He pointed glared at Riley. “Just t’see who could make a bigger arse of themselves.”

Riley’s face turned a deep shade of red and he glared up at Farris, furious and incensed. “KEEP YOU TONGUE IN YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH!”

“Riley,” Nonna began, raising a placating hand towards him, but he shouted over her.

“NO! They were Thorn guard, Nonna. My brothers! And I will not stand here and be told my grief is nothing but for show! Least of all by a giant!” He turned back to Farris. “You speak of things you know nothing about.”

“Do as ye well please, but it’ll just be people weepin’ over a bonfire. Ain’t no bodies fer ye to burn,” Farris said and gestured to Nenani. “The lil’un’s been my ward fer months and she’s been mournin’ fer the both of ‘em fer longer than that. I’ve seen her tears and heard her cry out fer ‘em in her sleep. So excuse me if I don’t think ye have any right to sweep in and take ownership of a grief that’s rightly hers. Ye haven’t a right to it. Or her father. ‘Specially since ye all were the ones t’ave tossed Hayron out in the first place.”

Riley drew his sword, the metal catching the firelighte. “HOW DARE YOU –!”

Yale stepped up behind Farris, eyes narrowed and voice low and threatening. “Put it away, boy.”

There was the rushing of many feet and the rest of the kitchen staff stepped up behind Farris and Yale. There all glares and scowls and tightened muscle. But either the squire did not see them or did not care, too entrapped by his own anger. Nenani went to stand between them, suddenly afraid of the sudden escalation, but Nonna gripped her arm and pulled her back, pushing her towards one of the group of humans. “No, dear. Stay out of it.”

“But...” she began to protest, but Nonna shushed her.

“Stay out of it.”

“Aye,” Farris said to Riley, scowling. “Where were the lot of ye when yer King had him and his pregnant wife thrown out into the wilds like unwanted dogs? Ye sat at his heels and followed yer orders like good hounds even as one ‘a yer own was thrown aside. So don’t get all high and mighty on me with yer talk of oaths and shit.”

Riley opened his mouth to reply, but Nonna spoke over him, gripping his sleeve and rubbing his shoulder. “No, son. He is not wrong to say so. He is not wrong. And we know it. Haiyer certainly did and you know it too.”

“Nonna that isn’t what...”

“Not everyone shares the same view as to just what it means to uphold one’s duty. It is a hard line to walk. And one you must be prepared for if you ever want to take the oath yourself.”

“How can you bare such an insult?” Riley demanded, voice thick with emotion. “How he speaks of us? As though we do not grieve them at all. That it did not hurt to see Hayron leave and know we would never see him again. To see Father weep and pray to the Gods that they would be safe and beg for forgiveness. To watch war break out and destroy everything and never knowing if they were dead or alive. Now we have a chance to help Father’s spirit to finally rest. And this...fucker tells us that we are not entitled to our grief?”

“Haiyer is dead, son,” Nonna told him and not unkindly. “Confirmation of Hayron’s death does not change anything.”

“It does to me!” he said. “I may not share their name or wear his sigil, but they are my blood too! Don’t tell me how I should mourn them. I would have been there if I had been given the chance!”

“Then you would have died with him!” Nonna said, anger rising in her throat. “You were a child, Riley! You would not have made a bit of difference to that fight. The moment the keep fell, you would have just been another dead child laying on that marble floor in pieces!”

The young man’s face contorted with pain and he took a lumbering breath and howled, “BUT I WOULD DIED WITH MY FATHER!”

Nonna was livid. “And I would have one less piece of my brother and another dead nephew to grieve over.”

“I can’t just –!”

“Riley, that is enough!”

Riley sneered at Nonna and then turned his angry focus to the group of giants. “Do you know how he died?” he demanded of them. “Captain Haiyer? My father? He was the last one, y’know. The last of the guard left alive when your King tore through the keep. Just before he killed our King and his family. His sons and daughter. Their children. Babes still in their swaddling clothes. Popped their little bodies like goddamn grapes!”

Nenani felt ill as she listened to Riley speak. One of the men standing beside her put a hand on her shoulder, his eyes downcast and sad.  

“Riley,” Nonna said. “Stop this now...”

But he did not listen to her. He was delirious with anger and he gave a manic laugh. “You might’ve noticed your King came back missing his left pinkie finger. That was my father’s doing. Lobbed the damn thing from his wretched hand...just before the Blood King bit hit head off!”

Nonna stepped in front of Riley and backhanded him across the face, the sound of it echoing across the camp. There was a moment where no one said anything and even Farris looked caught off guard. Riley stared at the ground, his head still tilted to the side from the force of the hit.

“Enough!” Nonna said and turned to the group of humans. “Pip, Jerand; take him home and put him to bed like the insolent child he is determined to be. Rendlen, you go too. You’re paler than milk and I don’t need you fainting on me.”

Three of the men from the group stepped up, one of them putting a hand onto Riley’s shoulder and guiding him towards the back gate. Riley did not protest or say anything, just kept one hand to his face where Nonna had struck him. Watching them go, Nonna sighed a great heaving breath as though it came from deep within. When she turned to Farris, her eyes were filled emotion.

“I am deeply sorry for his behavior, Farris,” she said, forcing herself to stand a little taller, though it was obvious she was still agitated. “It was not my intention for us to disturb you all. I hope you can forgive our transgressions here today.”

“That boy’s gonna end up pissin’ off the wrong folks one ‘a these days,” Farris warned her.

“He has many demons,” she relied, seeming smaller. “And I am sad to say...he is not currently winning that particular battle.”

“Tell ye what, Nonna,” Farris said. His face was placid and without a scent of irritation or anger. But there was something else there. Pity. “When ye see Warrick, give him this bit of advice from an ol’ man whose wrangled his fair share of belligerent lads who just wanna be angry at the world and fer everyone to feel as miserable as they do; work the boy till he can’t stand up straight no more. Don’t give ‘im a moment’s peace to dwell on all that shit in his head. Put all that angry energy into something productive. He’ll figure the rest out himself. Might take a few months. Might take a few years. But ye have to break him to have any hope of savin’ him from himself.” Farris turned his eye towards Yale and grinned. He reached out and looped his arm around his assistant's neck and pulled him into a choke hold. “S’how I set this smarmy bastard straight.”

“Ah, Farris!” Yale growled, pushing at the kitchen master’s arms. “Come off it!”

With a chuckle, Farris released his hold and Yale stumbled back with a muted curse.

Nonna watched the pair and laughed weakly at that, nodding. “Thank you. I will.”

“He said that the Captain was his father,” Quinn asked and looked to Nenani. “So does that make that whiny lil’ wanker the Dumplin’s uncle?”

“Half uncle,” Nonna said with a nod and then paused, looking at Quinn askance. “Dumpling?”

“Aye,” Farris said, the whole lot of them sharing a grin. “S’what we call yer niece there.”

Nonna laughed and patted Nenani on the back. “Well, I suppose there are worse things to be called.”

“What do you mean, though?” Nenani asked her. “When you say that he’s my half uncle?”

She sighed. “Well, no sense in beating around the bush as every in the village knows. Riley is your grandfather’s natural born son,” the old woman replied. “A bastard.”

The word echoed in Nenani’s mind, bringing with it the voice of Lord Eldherst. Bastard. Only a bastard.

“Hayron never told you? Nor Halden?” she asked, seeing the look on Nenani’s face. “That they had a half brother?”

“Papa never told me anything,” she replied, brow furrowed and feeling hollow inside. “I didn’t even know my last name until a few weeks ago...”

The old woman’s head drew back and she stared at Nenani, scandalized. “Truly?”

Nenani nodded. “I...never knew about anyone. Or anything...”

“He may have been waiting for your tenth birthday,” Nonna said. “When you would receive your first rite.”

“My first...rite?”

“That’s right,” she said with a grin, holing up the green sheathed dagger. “When you would have been given your dagger.”

“Given her dagger?” Bart asked with a bemused grin. “What’s the bloody hell does that mean?”

“You may have noticed us lot in the Hill Tribes are a bit...well, let’s be generous and say superstitious,” Nonna explained. “We of the Thorn clans hold traditions very close as it is really all we have left of our culture. We are all Silvaaran, but we are also Thorn. Our place in the hierarchy of Silvaara kept us apart from either end of society. Neither peasant nor nobility. So the old ways were kept well and alive through the years. Our music, our stories, our language...”

“...language?” Nenani asked.

“Tier,” Nonna replied with a grin. “Gothe‘er than ule ore sei schlie.”

Not a word she spoke was familiar and she had never heard anyone speak in that way. Nenani stared.  “What does that mean?”

“I said that many of us still speak the old tongue. As for the dagger, it is the first of the rites.” She looked to Nenani and smiled, holding out the green leather sheathed dagger to her. “When one of our clan turns ten years old, a dagger is made from a piece of their father’s yearling sword and given to the child as their first rite. Your father would have presented this to you on your tenth birthday,” She smiled at Nenani, but it was sad. “...but as we do not have his yearling sword nor him...I am afraid all I have is a substitute and my old bony self. Riley was going to present this to you, but...well.”

Nonna held out the dagger to Nenani and as she reached out to wrap her hands around the dagger’s hilt, Nonna closed her fingers over her hand. Holding them, she looked into Nenani’s face.  

“When you turn fifteen,” she continued. “This dagger will be melted down again and turned into a yearling sword as your second rite. And finally when you are deemed to be ready, your are given your final sword and take the oath. The oath use to be to protect and guard the royal family.” Nonna tilted her head in a strange sort of shrug. “But since the war, we have broadened that oath to the Hill Tribe and to Vhasshal should the King ever call upon us.”

Behind them, she heard Farris huff a laugh. “Yer saying yer wantin’ t’show the lil’un how to fuckin’ use a sword now?”

Nonna turned her eyes to Farris and laughed loudly. “Goodness no! We’d never set her upon such a path nor is it expected of any of our children to do so. Only four of the young ones have taken the oath in recent years and seven more have their yearling swords, but most never progress beyond their dagger. These rites are more to persevere our heritage than anything. Do not worry Farris, we don’t mean to turn your ward into a soldier.”

Farris chuckled. “Was only gonna warn ye she’d make a right sorry solider. Sleeps late, doesn’t mind ye worth shit, and she’s easily distracted by small shiny things.”

“I do not!” Nenani shot back with a frown. Nonna pulled the dagger from the sheath and it glinted in Nenani’s eyes, drawing her gaze downward. Behind her, each and every one of the kitchen staff was laughing. Nenani whirled around, red faced and opened her mouth to defend herself.

Farris eyed her with a smirk. “Oh, aye. Ye do, lass.”

She stuck her tongue out at the lot of them and the just laughed harder. Nonna smiled and patted her cheek affectionately.

“Don’t feel too bad, my dear,” she said and leaned forward to whisper into her ear, “I’m quite partial shiny things too.”

BONUS ART: Riley. 

Author’s notes: The Thorn clan language is similar in sound to the Irish or Gaelic languages.     

NEW DUMPLING PLAYLIST TRACK: Thorn Guard Song. 

[mrswhozeewhatsis]

A Woman of Letters (Getting a Feel for Sam Winchester) - Chapter 4

Summary:  You’ve just opened an occult bookstore in Lebanon, Kansas, when you fall for a tall, handsome customer…literally. You soon find out that there’s more to the world than you ever suspected, including you. Discovering your heritage puts you directly in a witch’s crosshairs, though, so the Winchesters offer to take you in and teach you how to protect yourself. As you discover your own family history with the supernatural and your own hidden talents, you can’t help but wish a certain brother was as excited about your interest as you are.

Total length: 43 chapters, 70,247 words - Read on AO3 - Series masterlist

Chapter word count: 1409 words

Pairing: Sam x Reader

Warnings: Canon-level angst and violence

Sam

The next day, Sam dug through the Men of Letters membership records. The name on the store was Bowen, and before he got too excited about this woman, he wanted to be sure he was right. He started with the most recent records, those kept in 1958 before Abaddon wiped almost everyone out. As he skimmed the pages, he found what he was looking for.

January 15th, 1958 – Man of Letters Ted Bowen to take a 6-month sabbatical from the order due to the birth of his child, Peter. Will return to duties no later than July 1st, 1958. (Note: Younger brother and fellow legacy, Lloyd Bowen, will reach maturity 12/9/1958, and will begin training under his father, Albert Bowen, and his brother, Ted, in the new year.)

…

June 20th, 1958 – Man of Letters Albert Bowen deceased. Natural causes. (Note: Ted Bowen still scheduled to return to duty no later than July 1st.)

Sam dug around through his own files and found his notes on Abaddon’s attack, further confirming his theory. Ted Bowen was one of the men killed by Abaddon in August, 1958. Putting the files away, he headed back to the library and opened up his laptop. Loading the public records web site, he found that Peter Bowen was born January 14, 1958, married Paula Bowen in 1983, had a daughter, Y/N Bowen in 1985, and died in a car crash with his wife in 1998. Sam considered the woman in the shop, her gorgeous smile, her kind eyes, and her lilting voice. She would have been 13 when her parents died, and apparently her great uncle had taken her in. Sam imagined her uncle in 1958, losing both his father and his brother within a month, and wondered if Lloyd knew the circumstances around his brother’s death. Considering the sigils he had taught his niece, chances are that he did. Sam shook his head sadly.

Sam was jerked out of his thoughts by heavy footfalls coming down the hall. Dean appeared in the doorway to the library a moment later.

“Find anything, yet, about ‘The Darkness’ we unleashed?” Dean settled into a chair next to Sam, pushed a beer towards his brother, and put his feet up on the table. Sam tried not to look guilty. It had been a week since Dean had lost the Mark of Cain and “The Darkness” was unleashed, and absolutely nothing had happened. Columns of black smoke broke out of the ground, formed one giant cloud, washed over the land looking like a tornado on steroids, and then promptly dissipated. The worst damage anywhere was similar to a severe thunderstorm, and the supernatural world had been unusually quiet since then. No demonic signs, no freaky deaths, no weird missing persons reports. It was extremely unnerving, to say the least. After they found Cas and Crowley back at the warehouse, fixing Cas was the priority, but Crowley had been surprisingly helpful with that. Well, in exchange for not locking him up with Cas until the spell was broken. Since then, Sam and Dean both had been hitting the books and the internet, calling hunter friends in their network, and generally brainstorming trying to figure out what was going to happen before it happened. Not to mention Rowena was off plotting who-knows-what with the Book of the Damned and the codex, and Metatron was also who-knows-where doing who-knows-what with the demon tablet. Investigating a woman he met in a shop was not high on anyone’s priority list, no matter how much he wanted it to be.

“Umm, no.” Sam kept his eyes on his laptop, hoping Dean wouldn’t push the issue.

“Confirmed that the shop owner is a Woman of Letters, yet?” Sam’s eyes flew up to Dean’s and he knew his guilt was written all over his face.

“What? No. We have plenty of other things to worry about besides a woman in a shop in town.” Sam huffed and put his eyes back on his laptop.

“Then it must be porn you’re looking at, because I’ve never seen you look at research like that, no matter how much I know it turns you on.” Dean smirked and Sam felt his cheeks get hot. Sam sighed.

“Fine. You got me. I dug into the membership records and found her grandfather. He was one of the men Abaddon killed. She’s definitely a legacy.” Sam sighed.

“Why do you think she doesn’t know? I mean, you said her great uncle obviously knew, so why didn’t he teach her?” Dean took a drink of his beer and shook his head.

“According to the records, her uncle was 17 when Abaddon hit. He was scheduled to begin his training in January of ’59. My guess is, he knew what the Men of Letters was, but not much more. Anything he learned after ’58, he learned on his own, like Dad. Maybe after she lost her parents he decided to get out of the life? You know, make sure she didn’t lose her last remaining family member and end up in the system.”

“She lost her parents young?” Sam saw the sympathy on his brother’s face.

“Yeah. She would have been 13. Records say car crash. Couldn’t find any news articles about it, though. It appears she went to live with her uncle after that.” Sam peered at his screen. “And he died in late 2010. Looks like his death is still open, though. Coroner left the case open as undetermined. Could be foul play, could be an accident. The record says cause of death is ‘idiopathic myocardial infarction.’ Well, we know what that means.”

“Yeah, the coroner was stumped. Think it could have been our kind of thing?” Dean looked slightly dismayed at the idea, but the comment shot a dagger of ice into Sam’s heart.

“Oh, God. 2010. The Apocalypse. If he was a Men of Letters legacy, and someone knew that, you don’t think he died because someone wanted to drag him back into the life, do you?” Sam felt the guilt claw at his chest. Could Y/N have lost her last remaining family because of him?

Sam saw Dean consider the possibility and then push it away.

“Naw, man. There was lots of funky stuff going down back then that wasn’t related. It could have been a ghost just scaring him to death, for all we know. Let’s not take more on ourselves than we already have. We have enough to be guilty about, already.” Dean rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. “Anyway, I came in here for a reason. Hank just called me and says he’s got a cursed object, he’s got it safely tucked away in a curse box, but he’s got nowhere safe to store it. He wanted to know if we could keep it here. I figure we have plenty of space, and there’s no place safer, so why not? I told him one of us will be at the bar down the street in a couple of hours and he can drop it off with us there. I figured you might want to go visit a certain shop just down the street from the bar, so I thought I’d take over research for a while.” Dean tossed the car keys on the table and flashed Sam a satisfied grin, obviously proud of himself for being so magnanimous as to offer to do research. Sam huffed.

“Dean, you hate research. What do you really want?” Dean put a hand over his chest dramatically and feigned offense.

“How could you possibly think that I would want anything more than to give my baby brother a chance to see the girl of his dreams again? You know, I’m offended. Here, I’m trying to do something nice, and you’re throwing it in my face! I guess I’ll just have to go meet Hank and check out this shop, myself!” Dean threw his hands up in the air and then reached for the car keys. Sam snatched the keys before Dean could reach them and got up. Dean smirked and sat back in his chair again.

“All right, Dean. I’ll be back in a few hours.” Sam grabbed his coat and headed toward the bunker’s garage. As he was almost out of earshot, he heard Dean yell.

“Oh, and bring back some pie! We’re all out of pie!” Sam shook his head as he got into the Impala. 

[kilesplaysthings]

IkeSen Custom MC/OC Meme

(just so you know, i’m pulling this straight outta thin air lol it’s late and i’m brainstorming as i fill this out XD)

Hello there, time-traveler / feudal heroine / warlord! What’s your name?

Oh hey there! My name is Ana Hill (I’ve been told I need to work on my Japanese letters - and I probably should be writing this in Japanese too - but hey, what Ieyasu doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?!)

Age? Height?

21! Uh, I guess about 5′3 or so?

What’s your fashion like? [Time travelers – pre & post-wormhole!]

Well, before I pulled a Marty McFly back into the Sengoku, my style was..um..nothing? I dunno, a simple t-shirt and jeans did the job for me. And Converse. Man..I miss my Converse.. Well, at my job I had to wear a nice pantsuit as well. Not too big on skirts, but I liked wearing dresses now and then. Heels were ok, but only for formal occasions. Now that I’m here in the good ol’ 1500s, I like to rock the kimono, if you know what I mean. Though I’ve been seriously considering swiping one of Mitsunari’s..or Ieyasu’s Hakama sometimes (they seem closer to my size, I think). Those look very comfortable!

Where are you from?

Glouchester, Massachusetts (USA) 

Feudal era – pros and/ or cons?

Ooh boy, here we go. Pros: It’s quieter here, plus the scenery is beautiful, like the different castles and shrines I’ve seen, not to mention all the nature!! Oh, and no pollution, either!! I get to be up close and personal with a lot of wildlife too, like horses! I’ve learned how to ride one too! Which is something I’ve always wanted to learn! Since I’ve been set up as a Princess I’ve been treated pretty well and everyone is very kind and helpful. And there’s a lot of lovely kimono I’ve been allowed to try on. Cons: Language barrier is worse in this time period. I could get by with speaking Japanese back in the modern day, but here, it’s different.. and I’m completely lost when it comes to reading their alphabet! I had no idea the letters changed over time! Also, they don’t call it the Sengoku era for nothing! It’s one thing to see it in the movies, it’s another thing to hear about and see the real thing. There are some things I don’t think I’ll ever un-see.. As for more lighthearted matters, I do miss wifi, not gonna lie.. and air conditioning... what I wouldn’t give for air conditioning again.....(and tampons but ANYWAYS)

If you’re not in your homeland/time, do you want to go home?

I do miss my grandparents, but also my time was also the time where I had to watch my mom die... so... a little bit of yes and a little bit of no...

What’s your home life like?

I lived with my grandparents, whose parents actually immigrated from Portugal. My dad was of some other nationality, like German or Dutch, I think. He skipped out on us when I was a kid. My mom died in my teens. You know, being able to actually speak a little Portuguese helps with the warlords? At least, with Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. Didn’t realize there were Portuguese merchants that visited Japan back then. The more you know, I guess!

You just got your dream job! What is it? / Or, what’s your line of work?

My line of work WAS being an English teacher in Kyoto. There was a cool exchange program in school that allowed us to go to Japan and I loved it. After that I learned that you could get a job that allowed you to teach English over there. I loved Japan, and I wanted to be a teacher. The rest is history. heh...

Any other hobbies or skills? Do you use them / how do you use them in the Sengoku period?

I’m a big movie buff. American film, French film, Japanese film, Korean film.. name it, I’ll watch it. It’s just a hobby of mine. Nothing very useful for the Sengoku period, though. Watching Kurosawa films does NOT make one a Sengoku scholar, I found. Though it is fun seeing all those warlords baffled at my lame 80s references.

Where is your base of operations? Azuchi Castle? Kasugayama Castle? A pirate ship? Running all over the woods or in a secret monastery? Some other cool place?

Azuchi. Nobunaga and Masamune were names I recognized. And Nobunaga can speak some Portuguese, so I went along with him. Good choice? Bad choice? We’ll see...

How do you feel about killing and violence?

It’s the Sengoku period. It’s just what goes on here. That doesn’t mean I like it, and that it doesn’t scare me half to death, but I just kinda...live with it? I couldn’t kill a person myself, though. Unless maybe in self-defense.

Have you learned to fight? If so, what’s your weapon and/or fighting style of choice?

Fighting kind of scares me. I did agree to learn how to shoot a bow. And Masamune gave me a dagger to protect myself.

What are you fighting for?

To survive? Being a Princess of Azuchi isn’t always safe, I’ve found. Especially when its Lord decides to drag me into battle even though he knows I don’t know a thing about fighting??!!

What are your feelings about authority?

Hey man, I don’t like dictators, but I come from a different time period. I can’t just assume that people are gonna understand or agree with the morals that I’m used to. If someone is pointing a sword or a pistol in my face, I’m not gonna act stupid and be disrespectful, you know? There’s a time and a place for things.

How do you handle someone invading your personal space?

If it’s someone I know and am close with, I don’t mind it at all! But if they’re a stranger, I get uncomfortable.

…do you invade people’s personal space?

I wouldn’t say so, unless, again, if you’re someone I am close with. 

Are you more open, or more reserved? Are you secretive?

I tend to be more on the open side. I can keep a secret, though, if need be (though it depends on if I think its something that should be kept secret).

Is this the first time you’ve been truly in love?

With a real person that I actually know? Yes...

What’s your style as a lover? (interpret this as innocently or not-innocently as you please ;) )

I can be a bit of a cuddler. Again, if I know you, I like to be close. Kissing is..yes. I like it.. I also like to play with hair and have mine played with. Honestly, just snuggling close to someone and talking about anything and everything is a perfect way to spend an afternoon for me. I’m not too complicated. I grew up in a small house where we shared everything. I’m used to simple things and am easy to please.

What are your favorite ways for someone to show you love?

Simple, everyday things please me. A nice comment, a random hug or kiss, a sweet gesture; just something that shows they were thinking of me... I grew up being taught that family is very important, so knowing that I am wanted and that I can be a part of someone else’s family would be a wonderful thing.

Do you use a petname or endearments for your lover(s)?

Hmmmm...maybe? When I was little, my grandfather once said my grandmother was fofo, which means cute or soft. Maybe I’d call him that...

How do you feel about…

Nobunaga? Weird. A mix of scary, funny, childish, and admirable all rolled up into that...admittedly attractive...mountain of a man. Good conversationalist too. It’s extremely entertaining telling him all of the stories from movies and books back at home.

Hideyoshi?  Scary at first, but super sweet once he got used to me. Very helpful and considerate. I’m slowly but surely winding him down and helping him chill out about Nobunaga sneaking out to get candy (because I want some of my own, darn it!!!)

Masamune? Also Scary. But man can he cook! Also he has a PET TIGER. One of these days, im stealing Shogetsu and keeping him for myself!

Ieyasu? Porcupine. Also a good teacher, but super strict! Gave me a real appreciation for herbal medicines.

Mitsunari? He’s SO CUTE? Literally, the cutest person I’ve ever seen?? Good study buddy, too. He’s helping me learn the language better and I’m teaching him English!

Mitsuhide? Scary. But cool. But scary. But funny. I can’t tell you how many times he’s made fun of the way I’ve stared at him since we’ve met.

Shingen? Hot. Too hot. Dangerous. gotta keep your eye on that one. May or may not have imagined him in a suit.

Kenshin? He’s got..two different colored eyes? Like a cat? Intimidating as all get-out. All he thinks about is war. Needs a hobby like stamp collecting. I want to touch his fluffy haori.

Yukimura? Reminds me of a guy I knew in school. Kind of a jock, but not the kind that has a way with the ladies. Lovable but awkward. That kind of guy. He’s funny when he’s with Sasuke though. Hilarious to tease too. He called me an enchantress one time and I tried to sing that one song from Hocus Pocus to him. Didn’t go well.

Sasuke?  Bestest pal ever. Would 100% time travel with him again. We have so many inside jokes we could write a book. (omg we should do that.. gotta remind myself to tell him that next time I see him!!) It’s a shame he lives so far away.

Kennyo? A warrior monk who wants to kill but also loves animals? Doesn’t compute. If only I could get him to a therapist...

Motonari?  I’m gonna teach him the “Pirates Life for Me” song one of these days...that is, if he doesn’t try to kill me or kidnap me or something first...

Any other friends/notables?

I did have some friends when I was teaching English, yes. I also got along with my students pretty well too. Mostly, it’s my grandparents I worry about while I’m stuck here...

Freestyle! Tell us anything else you’d like to share!

I have a massive sweet tooth like big man Nobunaga here. Hideyoshi has accused me of encouraging his addiction.. it’s true, sadly. Portuguese merchants are my best friends and I’ve haggled them enough that I get some of their delicacies for lower prices. I’m becoming Nobunaga’s best friend because of this, I think. My name might as well be Lucky Charm. Shingen may or may not have recruited me to his sweet dumpling team though. Those are super good...

*goes to think about all the sweets she misses*

Thanks for introducing yourself! ♡

(you rock, @nyktoon-ikemenlove !)

[ograndebatata]

More Elena of Avalor headcanons, though they’re on Princess Valentina of Paraíso and her guard Manuel

I think the title says it all. 

These are my headcanons for Princess Valentina and Manuel, how they met, what their relationship is like, and what the future may hold in store for them (though more Valentina). 

Again, this post really got away from me in terms of length. Like the previous one, it is divided into parts to make things a bit easier and clearer (I hope...).

One important detail: in regards to my headcanoning Valentina as heir to her kingdom, I am following that route because I’m interpreting Manuel’s announcement of her as ‘17th Heir to the Golden Throne’, as meaning that there were seventeen heirs (herself included) since the kingdom was established, and thus she will be its 17th monarch.

To pre-emptively address the accusation that I may have gone a bit too far with Valentina in terms of Mary-Sue territory, I plead that at least I can see where you’re coming from. That said, many of the traits I mention down there will be taken from the series and I tried to make the way she gained them believable. 

I also plead guilty to injecting perhaps a tad too much Manuelentina into it, but I think the way I portrayed it still makes a minimum amount of sense.

As one final tidbit, some details here are inspired from posts by @pizzansunshine , notably the detail about how Valentina cooked with her abuela and how Manuel was Valentina’s only real friend before Elena.

With that said, read on for my headcanons on Valentina and Manuel, with appearances by Princess Charlotte of Isleworth, her goblin Morris, and the sorceress Zinessa (all characters from Sofia the First), and references to Rafa and Elena herself.

Edit: Made a very small correction below (regarding the kind of té that Valentina took from her abuela’s garden) after realizing I mixed it up. Hopefully this will teach me the wisdom of not proof-reading headcanons so late in the night...

Princess Valentina Montañez Torres

Although Princess Valentina is the crown heir to the kingdom of Paraíso, one can say that her life there was anything but paradise.

Like many rulers in long bygone days - although unlike most in more recent eras - her parents had an arranged marriage. Some of it was for the sake of a political alliance, but a strong motivating factor is because Valentina’s paternal grandfather, father to the current king (then prince) of Paraíso, was a traditional sort who believed in keeping up appearances and felt that his son should marry someone ‘appropriate’.  As a result, he set up an arranged marriage between his son and a noblewoman from Cariza.

Both Valentina’s father and mother resented the relationship, as they loved other people, but as their parents were both pushing the relationship to an inescapable stretch, they had no choice but to go forward with it. That said, they made a private agreement on their wedding night: they would conceive a single heir to make their parents happy (which had to be theirs because of magical ways to determine paternity), and then they’d go back to their affairs (which they knew their parents wouldn’t mind as long as said affairs remained behind closed doors).

Less than a year after their marriage, their heir, a girl who they named Valentina, was born. The king was less than happy, as he believed a grandson would make a better heir than a granddaughter, but he hardly had time to convey his disagreement, because he died less than a month after Valentina’s birth. After the mourning period, Valentina’s father became king.

Valentina turned out to be a very bright girl as she grew up, learning to walk and talk before the average ages for both things and learning to read at the age of three. Unfortunately, her intelligence meant she was bright enough to realize that neither of her parents truly loved her, as she could tell the difference between the way loving parents (both palace workers and villagers) treated their children and the way hers treated her.

In her young mind, she believed that her parents treated her that way because she wasn’t good enough, and as a result she strove to be even better. She tried to find as many things to do and tried to be as good at each of them as possible, but it never seemed to be enough. To both her parents, she was the child they had been forced to conceive rather than the one they’d had with someone they loved. To her father, she was a girl as well, and thus an inferior heir by default (as he agreed with his father on that point).

All the same, Valentina was close to her father’s mother, with whom she did plenty of things, from gardening to cooking. Her abuela always tried to shower her with all the love and affection she could in an effort to compensate for the one her son wasn’t giving her granddaughter, but it never seemed enough. Valentina loved her grandmother very much, but she still wished that, some day, her father and mother would love her.

Valentina kept up her progress as she grew. She started learning how to ride at the age of seven, with a mare named Maravilla (who had just been trained as a learning mare, and who she later was given as a personal mount), and started learning how to fence at the same age. She also took subjects many other children who learned them deemed as extremely boring, such as politics and economics.

And as she learned more, she started realizing the poor conditions that some of Paraíso’s citizens lived in, and vowed to do what she could to improve them. At first, she could do little, but as she grew older, learned more, and gained more ‘personal clout’, she managed to do more. Sadly, it only seemed to enrage her father, who now had to inwardly acknowledge that his daughter was a better ruler than him. He needed so many advisers that most of the palace couldn’t even keep track of all of them - his daughter would likely do with six at most.

In general terms, the people loved her. They called her ‘Defender of the Realm’, ‘The Shining Light of the South’, ‘Beloved Champion of The People’, and even more epithets, some so grandiose they crossed the line into ridiculous. Noblemen were a bit more divided, but by and large they knew she would be better for the kingdom than her father. It only took someone with half a brain to realize that if not for his army of advisers, the king would have put Paraíso in a rather bad state.

Valentina even managed to find some romance of sorts in the process, as she, to her great surprise, fell in love with her best friend, who she had known since she could remember, and the only one she trusted with literally everything, except with not having the shock of a lifetime once she poured that part of her heart out to him, because there surely was no way he could have such feelings for her (now being older, Valentina knew she could be difficult to put up with in many ways).

But there was a bump in the road when Valentina was nineteen, and her mother died from childbirth after an exhausting pregnancy - and it became clear that the child simply could not be the king’s. The identity of the man with whom she had the affair was lost, but a rumor came up that perhaps Valentina was not the king’s daughter either - which if true, would make her ineligible to rule.

An uproar ensued. Many shouted that Valentina had to be the king’s daughter - one simply had to look at them to see. Others said they didn’t care whether Valentina was the king’s daughter or not, she’d be the best ruler the kingdom ever had.

But royal protocol had to be observed.

And while it was decided that the kingdom’s wizards (of which there were a great deal) couldn’t be trusted with finding the truth, a visiting princess from Isleworth and her goblin friend happened to have the solution. They’d ask Zinessa, the most famous sorcerer of their kingdom, to do the magical paternity test.

She made it, and it turned out that Valentina was indeed the king’s and the queen’s daughter, to the joys of many, but to the ire of those who were interested in having her removed from the throne.

But her father finally got what he wanted - a marriage to the woman he loved. He cut the official mourning period short by months and married the woman he’d been having an affair with for years, bringing her children along and giving Valentina a set of three ‘step-siblings’ (two of which were ‘not so step’, as they were her father’s illegitimate children) she had to learn to live with.

And the pressure on her only mounted. She had worked herself into such a pinnacle of perfection that she dreaded the consequences of making even the slightest error.

And she could only confide in one person about it.

Manuel

The son of the palace gardener, he knew Valentina since they were both in diapers and was the only friend of Valentina’s age that she had until her early adult years. All the other children, both from the royal court and from the palace staff, were too intimidated by and jealous of her. Not only she seemed to be better than them at everything, but she took everything too seriously. Everything was a competition for her, and she had to win them all. There seemed to be no way to be friends with her.

While Manuel was more easy going than Valentina, he had known her long enough to be used to it, and simply went with the flow on that aspect.

The two of them were joined at the hip since they could remember, and did everything they could together. Manuel could not take part in her royal training (which he was thankful for, because he found it dreadfully boring) but he did everything he could with her. They learned how to ride together, they learned fencing together, and they played olaball together. Valentina even learned topiary from Manuel’s father as he taught Manuel.

Other than her royal training, the only thing Manuel never learned alongside Valentina was magic. It seemed too complex, and he did not trust himself to wield such a powerful thing.

The only things Manuel was better at than Valentina were topiary and olaball. But instead of pursuing either of those careers, he started training to be a royal guard, as his parents wanted him to have some kind of prestige and financial security in his job, and Manuel found the wisdom in their words enough to agree. It was something he was familiar with at any rate (he ended up spending a lot of time defending Valentina) so he should be able to do it.

And he did, but right before starting officially, he was discovered by an olaball sponsor, who wanted him to be part of Paraíso’s olaball team. As Manuel liked olaball, and the pay was quite good, he accepted.

But it didn’t take him long to be disappointed. For one, olaball revolved too much about winning, winning, winning. It seemed too much like being around Valentina, but with much less of an actual concrete reason for winning and none of the tempering qualities that made Valentina such a joy to be with. And, he had to admit it, it was hard also because Valentina wasn’t there.

Manuel wouldn’t admit it to anyone, not even to Valentina (who he trusted with literally everything else) but he had fallen in love with her. But he kept it quiet. How could someone as amazing as her ever fall in love with someone like him?

Eventually, it came the time for Manuel’s first olaball tournament… and to his surprise, Valentina was there in the audience, cheering louder than anyone else, and cheering only for him. Seeing and hearing her made Manuel think that, no matter what, she would always be a great friend.

They ended up winning the tournament, but Manuel thought one was enough. He couldn’t tolerate having his life be all about olaball. So he went back to the palace and asked for a post as a royal guard. Many were disappointed, as Manuel had been the most promising player of the season, but if that was his will, then it was it. Valentina however turned out to be thrilled that he was back, and even more so when he was assigned as her personal guard.

Manuel was relieved to be back with her, both for his sake and for hers. He knew how life her hard was, and had worried about how she had been doing without him. They had regularly corresponded, but it wasn’t the same thing as being back together.

And it was only shortly after his return that Valentina’s mother died and there was the whole public uproar about her possible paternity, which cost Valentina several nights where she cried herself to sleep in Manuel’s arms. Though it was proved she was the rightful heir, the ordeal of having such a personal matter come to light publicly, not to mention her father’s all-too-prompt remarriage, almost lead to her having a breakdown.

But to Manuel’s relief, and thanks in no small part to his support (though Valentina’s abuela and her supporters among nobility and the people also played important roles) she recovered.

The end of the feud with Avalor

Like every surrounding realm, Paraíso heard about the return of the rightful princess of Avalor, and of how the one they thought was the rightful queen (thanks to an elaborate ruse involving forged documents) was overthrown by a rebellion from the people. It was a frightful experience for them, as only a short time before they’d had a visit from Shuriki, and they’d spent forty-one years right beside her.

Unknowingly to them, they had actually been the main reason Shuriki never expanded her tyranny beyond Avalor. Not only did they have a strong army, but they had enough magical people in their kingdom that Shuriki would never stand a chance against all of them. Even Princess Valentina had ended up impressing Shuriki with her magical talent (during a visit she made to see if it would be safe to invade Paraíso) to the point she reluctantly decided to leave them alone.

Had it not been for their feud with Paraíso (and the fact that Paraíso stated their support of Shuriki while they believed she was the rightful ruler) the people of Avalor would have gone to them for help early on. Rafa de Alva, daughter of the royal wizard of Avalor, had particularly regretted that she had never been able to apply for magic lessons in Paraíso, but with all the risk factors at stake, she had been too afraid of what could go wrong.

At any rate, shortly after the stories of Princess Elena’s return came the stories of her many incredible deeds. Her treaty with the noblins, her pacifying a rock monster, her handling of a Yacali threat, her vanquishing of the fairy Orizaba, her participation in the olaball tournament, her victory of the fencing tournament, her defeating of Marimonda… it all painted such a portrait of her as to be inimitable. Even some in Paraíso (thankfully for Valentina, not many) started saying ‘She’s even better than Princess Valentina!’.

Manuel reassured her that no, Elena couldn’t be than her. All those stories had to be blown out of proportion. But, shortly after the second Dia de los Muertos after her mother’s death, an emissary from Avalor came for a peace treaty - the first attempt made in over a hundred years.

Valentina decided to go, and between herself and Manuel, they planned out everything they would need to prove things to them, just in case. A mirror to focus the sun on her, té de limón from her abuela’s garden, trumpets for a musical number, a bright parasol, and her tamborita for magic displays. Maravilla also went.

When they arrived at Avalor, they quickly found out two things.

One - the stories about Princess Elena were, if not true, at least not exaggerated beyond any reasonable amount. She really had done all those things, even if some details might have been blown a bit out of proportion.

Two - Princess Elena truly seemed interested in becoming friends with her and their kingdom. Despite the pragmatic goal, there seemed to be a genuine offer of friendship. And Valentina simply couldn’t comprehend such a thing. She got along well with many heirs of foreign kingdoms - Princess Charlotte of Isleworth had even shown true concern for her when the issues of her paternity came about - but none was her ‘friend friend’. Valentina assumed that Elena had to be trying to put her off guard, and, still insecure after seeing how she truly couldn’t compare to Elena, simply went for her plan of impressing them.

But eventually, after an ordeal that involved her being overbearing to everyone in Elena’s palace, a crushing victory at olaball, and two accidentally-awakened Xolos, Valentina and Elena struck up a true friendship, and Valentina went back to Paraíso much happier than she had been when she left.

Which later turned out to be all the better for her, given everything she ended up having to face in Paraíso.

[kuriquinn]

A Hole In The World [2/?]

Blanket Fic Disclaimer: 

Title: A Hole In The World (continuation of this prompt)

Rating: T (for now)

Pairing: SasuSaku

Beta Reader: Not beta-read; check back at a later date for edits

Author’s Note: I was going to put this up a few days from now just to space things out, but a lot of people seemed confused about whether this was a time-travel fic or not, so I decided to post this early to give you guys a better idea of where I’m going with this.

サクラ

Sakura awakens to the sound of beeping monitors and an itch in her left hand that suggests someone has put an IV in. She frowns, not used to being on this side of the scenario.

“Sakura-sensei?” Ando asks, unnaturally tentative.

“What…happened…?” she begins, her mouth painfully dry. Her brain takes a few seconds to remember the prelude to her unconsciousness, but when she does she pnaics, shooting into a sitting position. “The poisons! They have hallucinogenic properties, and could be airborne! You shouldn’t be here, you can’t risk exposure!”

“It’s fine!” Ando cries, holding up a reassuring hand. “As soon as we got your message we locked everything down, and a team was sent in with protective gear to retrieve you. The room was completely quarantined and the science team even checked the air quality before going in for you. But it was fine. You just passed out.”

“Did you scan me for poison?” Sakura demands.

“It’s not like I’ve been working here for months or anything,” Ando grumbles, but at Sakura’s warning glare he quickly adds, “There’s nothing showing up. According to our tests, your vitals are find. If there was anything, it passed out of your system before we got there. You probably healed yourself. Though I have no idea why you passed out…do you do that a lot?”

“It was probably the energy expended healing,” Sakura muses with a frown. “Though I’ve been through much worse, it shouldn’t have hit me like that.”

It suggests whatever was in those containers was a much stronger poison than she expected.

“Are you sure there’s nothing else?” Sakura prompts.

“I’m sure. You’re fine. A little overworked and your make-up could use a touch-up, that’s to be expected after being unconscious for five and a half hours—”

“Sarada!” Sakura gasps in realisation. She swings her feet around, scrambling to get out of bed. “I have to pick her up!”

“You don’t have to worry about her,” Ando assures her. “Your mother called when you didn’t show up. Your daughter’s fine. In the meantime, you should stay overnight and sleep a little more.”

“I can’t, I have to be there to pick her up…”

“Ehm…maybe I’m not saying this right,” Ando hedges. “Your mother said if I let you come home without getting a full eight hours of sleep, she was going to…um…do something rather unpleasant to some rather important body parts.”

Sakura narrows her eyes. “And what do you think I’ll do if you don’t let me go?”

“No offense, but your mother scares me more than you do. You’d at least come for me face to face…I think she’d kill me in my sleep.”

“One of these days I’m going to have to figure out how my mother has managed to terrify every man in this damned village,” Sakura grumbles, sitting back on the cot. She huffs and then makes a dissmisive motion with her hand. “Fine. But if I’m going to be here, I want you running every test we have. Something happened to me, even if I’m not showing symptoms anymore. I want to know what it is.”

“That I can do,” Ando agrees.

サクラ

There’s a backlog of tests being run in the lab, and although Sakura could use her clearance to speed up the process, she doesn’t like to flaunt her privilege unless she has to. There’s nothing wrong with her at the moment, and she’d prefer the labs be working on the sick and dying than her.

Instead, she heads home to shower, then goes to pick up Sarada from her parents. She ends up agreeing to stay for breakfast, which as it turns out, is a good idea; she is surprisingly ravenous.

“I don’t remember you eating this much in ages,” Mebuki remarks as she shovels more steamed rice and natto into Sakura’s bowl. “The last time you had three servings of breakfast was when you were training with Lady Fifth.”

“You’re like a hungry clock,” Kizashi adds. “You’re keep going back four seconds.”

“Grandpa,” Sarada groans, though there’s a tug at the corner of her mouth; just like Sakura used to do at that age, she pretends to find her grandfather’s jokes lame.

“Actually, the last time I ate so much was when I was pregnant with this one,” Sakura says, absently reaching over to wipe a speck of soy sauce from her daughter’s cheek. “She really liked natto…”

“Mama!” Sarada protests, craning away from her.

“Well if you weren’t eating so quickly, you wouldn’t get food all down your front,” Sakura reminds her. “What are you in such a hurry about, anyway?”

“I have training to do,” Sarada insists importantly.

“Not until you finish your breakfast, you don’t,” Mebuki returns before Sakura can do so. “You need to eat enough to keep your energy up. And that means eating slowly, so you don’t get an upset stomach.”

Sarada opens her mouth to protest, but Kizashi agrees, “Many a true word is spoken ingest.”

This time it’s Sakura who groans, while Sarada folds her arms in front of her chest. A lump forms in Sakura’s throat because she looks so much like Sasuke when she does that!

She’s even becoming more like him, in terms of attitude.

These days, Sarada has become very quiet and withdrawn, devouring the books in their house and at the library related to the shinobi arts. She knows Sasuke is a talented ninja, because of all the stories she’s heard about him; Sakura has always told her everything about her father that she could without alluding to his mission or the darker parts of his past. And it was never a question that they would raise her as a shinobi, so in many ways this sudden studious interest is a good thing. It will serve her well when she starts the Academy in a few months.

But Sakura suspects it has more to do with Sarada trying to feel close to her father by living up to the standard he set.

One of Sarada’s tomes on well-known techniques among the clans of Konoha is always open to the chapter on Shurikenjutsu; Sakura has watched her daughter determinedly try to master it in their yard. Sometimes she wonders if she should teach her Katon, if only to help Sarada feel closer to her clan’s traditions, but she can’t get past the feeling that Sasuke must be the one to do that. Not just because he’s Sarada’s father and the patriarch of the clan, but because for him it’s such a personal thing to share.

But that brings us back to the fact he has to be here to teach it, Sakura thinks sadly.

None of them expected Sasuke’s mission to take as long as it is, and she thought he would be back before it really had an effect on their daughter.

Some days, no matter how important she knows his work is, she wishes she had argued more, or that Naruto had refused to let him go. Not that Sasuke responds well to ultimatums, but ever since the war, when Naruto offers him an opinion, he considers it. Seven out of ten times, he’ll even agree; it’s the other three that are so tricky.

It’s a rare day off, and so she tries to put all of this and the issues from the hospital out of her mind, instead running errands with Sarada in tow. They pick up groceries, shop for new shoes and clothes for Sarada—she’s growing like a weed!—and stop in to see the newest Princess Yuki movie—one of the many sequels to the Princess Gale films Naruto was so crazy about when they were kids.

All the while, Sarada remains quiet.

Later that evening, long after one of their usual quiet suppers for two, Sakura wonders if she ought to speak up. She doesn’t often ask Sarada what’s wrong directly—much like Sasuke, Sarada will insist there’s nothing wrong—and prefers a tried and true method of wordless coaxing to encourage her daughter to open up.

Just as Sarada climbs into bed, Sakura opens her mouth to ask, only to be interrupted with a question.

“Mama, what were Grandmother and Grandfather like?”

Sakura pauses for a moment, confused, and then realises that she’s being asked about Sasuke’s parents.

“I…well…” she considers. “I never met them before. They died a long time ago.”

“Oh.”

“But I think Grandma did know your Grandmother Uchiha a little bit. Maybe she could tell you a little more about her,” Sakura suggests.

Sarada’s eyes go wide. “Really?”

“Maybe,” Sakura repeats. “I don’t think they knew each other very well. But…it’s still more than I did.”

“What about Uncle Itachi?” Sarada asks, sitting up eagerly in bed. “You met him, right?”

Sakura hesitates here.

Neither occasion was exactly optimal; in one he was a deadly enemy who would have killed them all if their presence interfered with his elaborate plans—the other was in an alternate universe where it wasn’t technically their Itachi Uchiha.

“Briefly,” Sakura says. “He was a good man and a loyal Konoha shinobi.”

“What was he like?”

“You’ll really have to ask your Papa that when he gets back.”

Sarada sighs, unhappy. “So, I’ll never know.”

“Don’t say that,” Sakura chides, tapping her daughter on the forehead in affectionate reprimand. “Papa will be home soon. And you can ask him all of this.”

I hope…

“Now, it’s time for you to go to sleep. I have to be at the hospital for the morning shift, so we’re going to get up early and bring you to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.”

“I don’t wanna get up early…I’ll be tired all day.”

“So you can take a nap later.”

“Naps are for babies!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot,” Sakura laughs, and begins to rise.

“Mama, can I have a story before bed?”

She sits back down. “Which one?”

“Indra and Shachi.”

Sakura’s heart clenches a little at this.

“Don’t you want to wait for Papa to come home and tell you that one?” she asks gently. It’s always been their special story, even though Sasuke is careful to end it before it becomes too dark. Sarada isn’t old enough yet to hear the entire thing.

“You tell it better,” Sarada insists, a stubborn look on her face that is painfully reminiscent of her father.

Sakura sighs, because every day, Sarada is a little more critical and a little angrier about her father’s absence.

And yet, she always asks for this story, so as angry as she is, she still misses him an awful lot.

The whole things is beginning to affect her socially, which has Sakura worried.

She practically grew up with Boruto Uzumaki; they were inseparable. And how could they not be, given who their parents were? The amount of times Sakura would come pick Sarada up from the Uzumaki household to find Boruto, Sarada and Himawari curled up under a blanket on the couch, snuggled up like little puppies. She’s taken an embarrassing number of secret photos to show Sasuke when he returns.

But…that’s just the problem,

He left; Naruto didn’t.

Boruto and Himawari could go home at the end of the day to a mother and a father; Sarada couldn’t. And Sakura’s daughter noticed, because of course she did.

She stopped wanting to be around them, to the point where she’d pick fights with Boruto, and throw a fuss whenever Sakura tried to bring her for playdates. Not long after, the same thing happened with Inojin, who Sarada suddenly proclaimed was too weird. Ino mentioned that she started getting distant when Sai began to teach their son his Chōjū Giga.

As if it’s any mystery why that would upset her…

“Mama?”

Sakura shakes her head, coming back to the present, and says, “Alright then, if you’re sure.”

She begins to relate the familiar tale, stroking her daughter’s hair as she does until the child drifts into slumber.

When she rises, her thoughts are jumbled. She usually tells the story without thinking much about it—she’s told it so many times, and considering she’s already lived it (after a fashion), it has the same consistency in her brain as a well-loved memory.

Except it makes her think about what happened in the lab today.

The last time she started to have strange dreams without warning, she spent months reliving a past life.

That was triggered by my pregnancy, though, and I’m not pregnant now.

Honestly, it felt more like that time she and Naruto were dragged into that parallel dimension of Obito’s. Except, in that case she was actively pulled through a portal and stuck there until Naruto got them out.

So what was it? Could it be work stress?

She doesn’t sleep well that night, her mind puzzling over the mysterious contents of the box, and analysing every detail she remembers from her dream.

Or hallucination.

On top of all of that, Sarada’s worries needle at her. With that sense of helplessness in the face of her daughter’s questions, an overwhelming longing fills Sakura, for the man who has carried her heart so very far away.

サクラ

The next day, Sakura wakes dizzy and nauseous; it feels like she remembers the flu feeling, though it’s been many years since she’s been sick. Ever since she unlocked the Byakugō she doesn’t have to worry about that sort of thing.

She brings an equally grumbling daughter to her parents’ house, and heads to work, feeling like her head is a wind tunnel. The whole day she slogs through her work, delegating as much as she dares to. It even comes to the point that she is forced to hand over the C-section to one of her most promising subordinates, although she observes from the gallery in case of emergency.

At the same time, she marks down observations about her condition in a notebook, trying to find some common symptoms that will clue her in to what’s happening. Halfway through the procedure, Ando wanders in with a folder that has her name on it and hands it to her. “All of the tests we ran came back negative.”

“That’s not possible,” Sakura snaps. When he flinches, she sighs and apologies, “I’m sorry. This is just frustrating…”

“I’ll keep looking.”

“Thank you.” He begins to leave, and then pauses, a startled expression on his face. “You’re…you’re bleeding.”

“Huh?”

He points to her face and she raises her hand, touching her face just beneath her nose; her fingers come away red.

Alarm bells ring in her head.

“Do the tests again,” Sakura says quietly. “Leave no margin for error, and if there’s any test you haven’t thought to run yet, run it anyway. Even if it’s completely unrelated. Whatever’s going on might show up in an unexpected test.”

“Y-yes, boss.”

He runs off to do just that and Sakura reaches for her notebook again, jotting down another symptom.

Nasal hemorrhage…never a good sign…could the contents of those vessels have had a slow-acting neurotoxin, or—?

All of a sudden, her body seizes.

Her limbs go rigid and her head slams backward in her chair as the operating room and gallery vanish around her.

サクラ

Sakura’s world jerks and she is suddenly standing in the middle of an unfamiliar street, stumbling forward.

“Sakura!”

Someone catches her and when she looks up, there’s Sasuke again—the Sasuke from her dream. He isn’t dressed in the police uniform this time, but a high collared shirt similar to the one he wore as a genin, and neatly pressed trousers.

“What’s going on?” she demands, looking around. “Where are we?”

“What are you talking about?” he asks, his brows drawing together incrementally.

“The…I was in the…?”

Sakura continues to look around, noticing tiny details about the place that tell her she isn’t in a completely unfamiliar location. She’s been here before, only…only it was a lot emptier. Her attention pulls away from her panic long enough to consider the people wandering past; people who look familiar but aren’t. Her recognition of them is based on traits that she has come to know personally in the past decade.

Dark haired, fair skinned, black-eyed people, wearing the clan crest she adopted almost seven years ago.

“This is the Uchiha district,” she says, swallowing against the subtle, panic-induced tightening in her throat.

“Last time I checked,” he agrees, sounding wary. “Sakura, what’s going on? Is this that “pregnancy brain” you were telling me about?”

She doesn’t answer him.

“This is wrong,” she murmurs to herself, watching several children wearing uchiwa symbols on their back chase each other through the street. “This…this can’t be here. I can’t be…am I unconscious?”

“It’s happening again, isn’t it?” Sasuke interrupts, his tone anxious and accusing. “You said you were fine at the hospital.”

“I have no control over what Dream-Me says or does,” she shoots bag, aggravated and short-tempered in a way she rarely is with her Sasuke.

“That’s it,” Sasuke shakes his head. “We’re going back to the hospital and getting those tests you didn’t want. And you’re calling Iruka tonight and telling him you’re not coming in tomorrow.”

“Iruka? Why would I talk to Iruka?”

“They can find a substitute for you. They should already be looking, since your leave will be starting soon anyhow,” he continues. “This is why we talked about you taking it earlier—”

Right. In this world I’m a teacher, apparently. And—

“Hold on,” she snaps. “I don’t know how things work in this universe, but there is no reality where you get to boss me around.”

His eyes widen a bit in surprise, and then he sighs. “Hormones.”

Sakura narrows her own eyes. “You did not just say that.”

Her impending murder of her Not-Husband is interrupted when someone suddenly calls out his name.

They both turn around, just in time to see an older couple saunter out from a nearby storefront. Sasuke curses under his breath, probably unhappy that their discussion is being interrupted. But he turns and bows his head in respect.

Hold on…what? When has Sasuke ever…?

“Uncle Teyaki, Aunt Uruchi,” he greets them, allowing the woman to draw him in to a hug with an expression of uncomfortable tolerance.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen you, boy,” the man says, and then turns clever black eyes on Sakura. “And who is this?”

“This is my wife, Sakura,” Sasuke explains.

Oh, good, I’m not expected to know these people.

“Er…pleased to meet you,” she says for want of anything else.

The couple exchange what is clearly an uncomfortable, significant married-couple look, as well as a silent conversation, and then paste smiles on their faces.

“Ah, yes, we had heard you got married,” Uruchi says. “Congratulations.”

“Bit of a rush, wasn’t it?” Teyaki chuckles nervously, glancing at Sakura’s middle. “I suppose we know why now.”

Catching the implication, Sakura opens her mouth to snap back at the person, but Sasuke’s arm squeezes around her shoulders in warning. She intends to shrug him off, but finds his hold on her is heavier than expected.

Frowning, she tries to pull free, only to find that she can’t.

She has no strength.

What kind of world is this?!

“Now don’t mind him, he’s being rude,” Uruchi speaks up. “We all understand that circumstances don’t always work out the way we hope. You make sure you come by this way more often, dearie, you seem like a nice girl. And we make the best senbei in the village. It won’t upset your stomach or the little one’s.”

She smiles kindly at Sakura.

���That’s assuming they come back,” Teyaki points out, and then raises an eyebrow at Sasuke. The gesture is eerily similar to Sakura’s husband’s; she really isn’t used to seeing his mannerisms on anyone else but her daughter. “I take it you’re here to speak with your folks?”

Sasuke grunts in reply—at least his dislike of sharing personal information is the same.

“I just want to know what’s taken so long,” Uruchi harrumphs. “You and that father of yours are so stubborn—”

“Well, if it isn’t the runt of the family.”

Someone appears by their side, so swiftly and silently that Sakura suspects he used Shushin; he’s curly haired, and with a smile and a casual, friendly demeanour that reminds Sakura instantly of Kakashi.

“Long time no see, little cousin,” he continues, and then ruffles Sasuke’s hair in a way Sakura has seen her husband break ribs over when Naruto used to try it.

Instead, Sasuke simply jerks away, shoving the other man and snaps, “Knock it off, Shisui!”

Shisui…I think I know that name…

Sakura tries to remember what Sasuke told her about him, long ago; an older cousin, his brother’s best friend and something to do with Danzō Shimura.

“Forgive me, princess, I didn’t realise you still took offense to having your hair messed up,” Shisui replies without a hint of bother over Sasuke’s attitude. He faces Sakura and offers her a friendly smile. “Hello there. Allow me to introduce myself since my favourite cousin is too emotionally stunted to do it.”

“Shisui,” Uruchi chides.

“That’s my name.”

“At least you know that much,” Sasuke grumbles.

Shisui doesn’t seem put off by Sasuke at all. “Hey, when are you going to stop kissing ass at the police force and come join ANBU like your brother and me?”

“About the time you quit.”

“Ouch. I’m hurt. And here I thought it was because you preferred the cushy, safe jobs,” Shisui muses. “Or has uncle taken you off the roster already?” Sasuke grits his teeth at him. “Ah. I take it that’s one of the things you want to discuss with him tonight?”

There’s something entirely too innocent about his tone.

“Does everyone but me know what’s going on here?” Sakura asks out loud.

Sasuke suddenly turns to face her, eyes wide. “Sakura!”

“What? I’m just pointing out the truth here—”

“Catch her, before she—”

“I’ve got her—!”

The world tilts like she’s being shaken and Sakura tries to fight it. “Sasuke, what the hell—stop!”

But then the familiar swooping sensation of being ripped from her sleep overtakes her, and the world shifts.

サクラ

She awakens on the floor of the gallery; Ando has been trying to rouse her, apparently, and when she wakes the first thing she notices is his inability to disguise his fear.

Ando stands over her, unable to disguise his fear.

This isn’t going away in a hurry, she realises as control returns to her body.

“Book a lab and make sure no one but you and I have access to it. And tell no one about this—I don’t want to start a panic until it’s necessary,” Sakura tells him grimly as she pushes herself to her feet. “We have work to do.”

つづく

Reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated! Also, if you are in a supportive mood, I have a ko-fi button at the top of the page, or you can find my tip jar here.

Thanks for your interest in my work!

クリ

Next Chapter

[brokenhearted-queen]

Fading Into Happiness

-Author’s note: sorry about the format I posted it on mobile. hope you enjoy! A special thanks to @fishfingersandjellybabies who made me less nervous about posting this! Also to @alextimeexpress who was my proofreader-

Summary: After a confrontation with Bruce, Damian is left to make a decision. One that would change everyone’s lives.

Slowly, Damian made his way down to the cave. He was in need of his Father’s assistance with a school assignment. He only had problems with history, since the way they taught it at school was the Americanized version of events. They never seemed to teach the children how everything really happened. He stopped as he heard Grayson and his father arguing.

“No, you don’t understand Bruce! Since Timmy died you’ve just been focusing on being Batman. The family doesn’t need Batman. It needs Bruce!” Damian heard his voice echoing through the cave.

“I need to bring his killer to justice, Dick. You know that the League needs me as well. I don’t have time for your nonsense.” Damian flinched over the cold tone of his voice.

“This isn’t nonsense Bruce! I don’t care if you ignore me! Jason’s on a mission right now, but what about Damian? You haven’t been with him at all! I had to learn from the Titans that not only did you miss his birthday, but were completely ignorant to Ra’s Al Ghul’s threat to Damian.” Dick snarled at the end of his sentence.

Bruce stalked towards Dick, he was so close Dick could feel his breath on his face. His hands shook by his side as they slowly formed into fists. It was so tight Damian could hear the squelching of the leather. “He never informed me of this.” Bruce said, his voice shifting from defensive to enraged.

Damian looked at the floor not knowing what to do. He wanted to tell them that they were foolish to believe he couldn’t handle himself, but at the same time he was really hurt when his father missed his birthday.

“He was about to give himself to Ra’s! He was willing to sacrifice himself again and become the monster he so desperately tried to escape! And you were nowhere to be found! Goddamn it, Bruce! We already lost Tim. Are you really okay with losing Damian? Are you okay with him dying AGAIN? ARE YOU GOING TO LET HIM DOWN AGAIN?” Dick scream at Bruce.

Suddenly, Damian heard a smack. He let out a gasp and ran downstairs. He stared at Grayson, on the floor holding his now bruised cheek.

“Grayson!” He yelled as he went to him and helped him sit up.

“Father! That was unnecessary! Apologize now!” He said glaring at his father.

“Don’t worry Lil’ D everything’s fine. We just had a misunderstanding.” He said ruffling his hair.

“Father had no right to hit you.” Damian said looking at him.

“He should not have yelled at you for simply caring about me…” He trailed off feeling overwhelmed, thinking that maybe his father did not care for him as much as he hoped.

Bruce look at him as he sighed and rubbed his face.

“This was so much easier with Tim…” he muttered under his breath.

Damian heard him and his eyes widened as he took a step back unconsciously.

“No, wait Damian that…that wasn’t what I meant” Bruce said realizing his mistake.

“Tt, well I am sorry Father but I am not Drake.” He pulled away from his father and ran upstairs.

Dick went after him, hot on his heels. “Wait Lil’ D! Dami! Damian!” He yelled as he was able to catch to him and pull him into a hug.

He rubbed his hair and Damian struggled a bit, but ended up leaning into his embrace.

“Hey, how about you stay with me for a few days? Jaybird’s coming and we would very much like your company. I think I can convince him to give back the Red Hood doll.” Damian was only able to nod against his chest. Not trusting his voice to betray him and display his weakness.

He already had clothes in Grayson’s house so he didn’t need to pack any clothes.

He let Dick manhandle him onto his back. He leaned in and enjoyed listening to his brother’s heart and breath. Dick felt reassured by the weight on his back and feeling his little brother’s heartbeat echo. Because his little brother was here and alive. He almost lost him again because he didn’t want to burden his family again. He had to tell him that sacrificing himself wasn’t the answer. He had to stop trying to take on everything himself, to let them take some of his burden because they care about him. But that was a conversation for another day.

Eventually he heard small snores coming from his back. He took out his phone and called Jason.

“Hey Dickie Bird I got us two extra meat lovers pizza.” Dick smiled at his brother.

“Hey Jaybird, could you ask for a vegetarian one? Lil’ D is joining us.” He heard Jason grunt.

“Baby Bat’s coming? Ha! I should just get another meat lovers!” He said teasingly.

“He’s had a rough night, Jay.” Dick sighed out. Jason’s voice turned to concern.

“Did the brat get hurt on patrol? I thought he wasn’t supposed to go on patrol today.”

“No, he didn’t go on patrol today, and he isn’t hurt…well not physically at least. He had a rough couple days to be honest. And Bruce didn’t help.” Jason started cursing up a storm.

“B and his emotional constipation. I know my dying didn’t mean shit to him-”

“Now, Jason you know that’s not true. Bruce was heartbroken with your death.” Dick interrupted softly.

“-but Damian, he’s just a kid for fuck’s sake! Bruce should care more dammit. After everything we went through to get him back. I would think he would actually jump at the opportunity to be a good father. Hell after what happened to Timmy…” he trailed off feeling his anger fading to sadness.

“Yeah, that’s also part of the problem…he compared him with Tim.” He heard Jason start cursing again.

“Real smooth B real smooth.” He snarled.

“Hell I’ll get a vegetarian pizza and some strawberry Ice cream for the demon spawn.” He said with a snort. Dick chuckled sadly.

“I know he misses Tim…we all do, but he’s letting that get in the way of taking care of Damian.” He said softly as he approached the safe house.

“I’m here. I’ll talk to you inside.”

During that moment, Dick forgot that Damian was a light sleeper and he managed to hear the entire conversation. Damian had to admit that he also missed Drake. They were finally able to get past their differences and could have been brothers…but now he doesn’t have a chance to.

Dick made his way inside the safe house with Damian still on his back. Jason looked up and just felt a little pang in his heart. Because Damian actually looked like a kid on Dickie Bird’s back. Something that the both of them never really had the chance to be. Maybe they could work on that with Damian. Dick smiled at him softly.

“I guess he hasn’t gotten much sleep these last few days.” He said as he gently tried to wake him up.

“Hey Lil D we’re here wake up.” Damian decided it was time to stop pretending, so he woke up and slowly rubbed his eyes.

“Todd.” He said in acknowledgement. Jason rolled his eyes and picked him up from Dick’s back and threw him to the couch. Damian let out a small “Tt” but said nothing about it. They all got comfortable and settled into a nice atmosphere, laughing and joking around.

“So Babybat I heard you had a couple rough days. What happened?” Jason asked, but Damian just sighed and shrugged.

“The usual.” He said simply not going into details.

“Come one Demon Spawn. Don’t give me that bull. Just tell your Big brother what’s wrong.”

Damian looked at him and gave him a half hearted shrug. As he stared anywhere but at his brother.

“I received a ‘gift’ from my grandfather on my birthday. It was a dead robin. In the gift he specifically told me that if I do not reclaim my position in the league he will kill me. Since Father was occupied, I decided to gather and form a team. They were targets as well, but we managed to defeat Grandfather and that’s all there is to it.” Damian said like he was explaining a stroll in the park instead a murder attempt by his grandfather. Dick actually glared at Damian.

“From what Starfire told me, there’s a lot that you’re leaving out. Now why don’t you tell us what’s missing.” Damian glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I decided that statistically, it would be a better plan for me to surrender to my grandfather. That way he would spare the lives of the Titans and no one had to die. Which was one of the more preferable outcomes” Damian said like he wasn’t talking about destroying his life.

“Damian…why didn’t you call me? Or Jason or Bruce! We would’ve helped you! You can’t keep doing this! ” Grayson exploded saying the last part. Damian stood up roughly from the table.

“Yes Grayson, tell me how exactly? You weren’t exactly taking phone calls! Todd was in a undercover mission and was unavailable. Father was on League business. I did not want to be a burden so I handled it myself.” Damian snarled and Dick and Jason just stared at their little brother not sure what to respond to the truth.

The silence was suffocating as everyone tried to figure out what to say next.

“Is it true?” Damian voice rang out and echoed through the room. Jason and Dick look at each other not sure what he meant.

“What do you mean Lil D?” Dick asked as he watched Damian sit back down.

“Is what Father said true? Was it easier with Drake?” He spoke in a low voice.

Dick eyes widened in horror as he felt like he was stabbed by a knife ten times. Because he heard the underlying meaning to what his little brother just asked. Was it easier to trust Drake? Was it easier to confide in him? Was he easier to love? If the room silence was suffocating before, now it was deadly and one false move will hurt Damian. Jason’s jaw was on the floor as he was stunned for what he just heard. He just couldn’t believe anything, that Bruce could be such an ass.

“Damian…that isn’t what Bruc- you know what let’s forget about Bruce for a while. They are many different things between you both and they’re not so easy to understand or to explain. But no, it wasn’t easier to be Tim’s brother. It was equally easy to love both of you. It was equally as hard to lose both of you as well.” Dick admitted softly as he took his little brother in his arms and gave him a hug.

Damian didn’t respond just let himself be held. Jason nodded in agreement and threw his arm over his brother’s shoulder. They stood there in a comfortable silence. Until Damian spoke once again.

“Do you miss him?” Dick nodded quickly and simply said “very much.”

Jason huffed softly “it isn’t the same without babybird around.” Damian had a contemplating look and gave a court nod.

“Would you be happy if Drake was here?” Dick sigh deeply.

“I would be extremely happy to have Tim back.” Jason just grunted in agreement. Damian nodded and got out of Dick’s embrace.

“I am heading to bed, thank you for your hospitality.” He said and just headed to his room Jason patted Dick’s shoulder, trying to bring his brother a sense of peace.

Damian went to bed for the night, but Jason was going to talk to him make sure he understood that it’s because they cared about the little brat and wanted him safe. He also was going to have a talk with Bruce with his fist on his face. Jason never expected him to win father of the year award, but the least he could do was keep the damn kid alive after just getting him back.

Meanwhile, Damian went to one of the bedrooms in the safe house. He was extremely confused and hurt about what happened today. Not that he will ever admit it aloud.

He did what his father and Grayson had taught him he protected the innocence no matter the cause. Instead of being praised for his behaviour, he was reprimanded and compared to Drake. He had mixed feelings about his brother. He may have never been close but he learned to cared for him.

The only reason for their initial mistrust was his heritage and the way he was raised. In his case, Drake represented his father’s perfect son and partner, one that he chose and wasn’t stuck with. He was the son his father wanted.

Drake to him, represented an obstacle that he had to overcome so that he could win his father’s trust…his father’s love. He tried, he truly did and it took him so long to prove to his father he could be good.

He was beginning to get along with Drake, but he still saw him as a competitor for his father’s trust. He came to realize that maybe he didn’t need to see him as an enemy. That yes, Drake had a hard time believing he could be good, but he was. Then he died and he could finally see proof that what Drake said was true… that he was evil, so evil he went to hell.

He was brought back by his family, yes, including Drake and so he thought 'if Drake can give me another chance, then the universe can too.’ He went and decided to atone for his sins…but many bad things happened.

In the end he died once again saving the world, thankfully it was just a momentarily endeavor. After many other things he was back to being his father’s Robin, trying to do good. They started to become distant but Robin wanted to believe it was because Gotham and the Justice League needed him more than he did.

Then Drake died saving the world and the legacy became so much heavier. Bruce almost became completely nonexistent in his life. He tried to make him proud, he even went as far to rebuild the Teen Titans. He knows his father did everything in his power to bring him back…but now he wonders if given the option, would he choose Drake over him. And that kind of thinking destroyed him, because he wanted Drake to be alive. He felt guilty thinking that he came back, the unwanted child who had to earn his father’s trust. Instead of Drake, the prodigal son who his father chose to love. A part of him just wanted them to accept him and to love him. The other part, the bigger part of him just wanted to make him happy but he had no idea how. He went to bed trying to think of different ways of making his family happy. After a while, he fell asleep. In that moment he didn’t realize he had a choice to make. One that would change everything forever, one that could grant his wish and make his greatest nightmares come true.

It started as a dream, that’s what he believed. One that he did not understand. The only way he could explain it was a void that went out for miles and miles. He could only see darkness and had no sense of direction.

Damian tried to move around but he had no control over his body as gravity did not exist in this dream. Even though Damian had a hard time admitting it, he was worried and scared. His mind was telling him that it was just a dream but his body knew that it wasn’t, that something wasn’t right.

His suspicions were confirmed when he felt another presence. He could feel his heart speeding up as he tried to get into a fighting stance just to end up floating around. He let an annoyed “Tt” as he tried to regain control.

“You must calm down, little one.” A voice echoed through the void bouncing off the non-existent wall.

“You intolerable fool, I am not little!” Damian snapped, not being able to help himself. He let out a gasp as he actually saw the creature who had spoken to him.

There was no simple way to explain this creature. Damian believed there was no word to describe the magnitude of this creature’s height. He was simply even more than colossal. In a way he created an illusion that he was even taller than the heavens in the sky. He had the shape of a human body, but he had no face. It look like he absorbed every single star and light source from the universe, cursing us to eternal darkness. But in a way the creature wasn’t blinding. You could stare at it in awe for centuries and not be tired. The creature was simply breathtaking.

Damian, for once, was speechless and the creature just tilted his head to the side in a gesture of curiosity.

“You must understand, little one. I mean no harm. I only seek understanding.” The voice rang around the void and Damian had no clue as to where the voice was coming from.

He could see the creature right in front of him but he could not pinpoint the voice location or even tell if it was the creature speaking to him.

“Understanding?” Damian huffed.

“I am the one confused here! Where am I? Why am I here? What the hell are you?” Damian screeched and the creature just observed. Or that is what Damian believed as he could not see that it had eyes.

“Those are very good questions, little one. Ones that I can answer, some that I can not. You are in a safe place, one that cannot be tainted by evil. I…do not know how to explain my existence to you. I am known by many names by the humans. You are here, little one. To make a choice.”

Damian was unsatisfied by the answer he got. It was so vague it just created even more questions. Damian looked up at the creature not sure what it all meant, but he was going to make sure he found out.

“So what am I supposed to call you? Because from what I can tell so far, you just respond to ‘fool’.” Damian hissed at the creature to which made no difference to it.

“There is no need to be rude little one. I have many names. None of which I am incredibly fond of. Names are just ways to address a person. I see no use of having one. If you are so inclined of me needing one. You may call me as you wish, little one.” Damian raised an eyebrow at the creature’s roundabout way of thinking.

Names were important to Damian, they represent who he is, who he was. Wayne, Robin, Al Ghul they were not only names, but titles that defined a person. Damian ‘Tt’ once again annoyed with the lack of understanding of the creature

“I shall address you as Sirius then.” Damian concluded and he could feel the atmosphere lighten a bit

“So tell me Sirius, what is that you wish to understand and what is that choice I need to make? And how did I get here?” Damian lash out one question after another not even taking time time to breathe.

“I seek to understand you, little one. You came here of your own volition. You wish for happiness, not for you, but for your love ones. I have no understanding as to why you wish for others’ happiness above your own.” The voice echoed through the void and replayed itself in Damian’s head again and again trying to understand what he meant.

“I did not come here of my own free will!” Damian protested. Sirius actually inclined his head forward in the form of a nod.

“Your desire to make your family happy no matter the cost brought you here, little one. If you wish to leave, you can do so. If you do, that will be your choice.” Damian stared up at Sirius as goosebumps started to paint his body.

“You keep talking about a choice…what do you mean?” Damian asked as he gulped down his nerves.

Sirius hand stretched out and stopped in front of Damian. He stared at Sirius confused and eventually he went and stood up on his hand. Sirius slowly lifted his hand and what felt like an eternity later Damian was finally face to head with the creature. Damian body shivered as he look at the creature with no face.

“Little one, you are here because you wish for something that I have the power to give you.” Sirius explained.

Damian looked up at him shyly.

“You…can make them happy? All of them?” Damian ask hopefully.

Sirius just nodded.

“I do have the power to do that, little one.” The creature’s voice resonated inside of Damian giving him a new hope.

“Even Drake…?” He asked with innocent and hopeful eyes.

“Yes little one, Timothy is included in the deal.” Damian looked at the creature dubiously.

“How can you promise so much? You are even offering bringing back Timothy. What are you?” Damian exclaimed feeling concerned with the possibilities.

“I am the guardian of this reality, Little one.” Sirius admitted.

“This…isn’t a dream that I created to indulge in my delusions?” Damian stated more than asked.

“Little one, this is very much real. I can grant your family the happiness that you wish for them. There is a way I can do that for you.” Damian looked down at his hand and sighed.

“What is the catch? It is a choice isn’t it?” Damian said getting straight to business.

“I am the guardian of this reality, but I do not have the power to change reality and keep it the way I wish to permanently.” Sirius explain and Damian scowled at him.

“Why have you offered me something that you cannot give me?” Damian snarled wanting to punch the creature for giving him a glimmer of hope.

“But you have the power to change reality, little one. It does come with a price. It is your choice, I do not gain or lose anything because of it.” The creature said as he lowered Damian just a bit.

“Then why offer me a choice? Why help me when you have nothing to gain from it?” Damian said as he tried not to cry.

“I felt your deep conflict inside. You desperately wish for your family’s happiness and never thought of your own, little one. I heard your wishes and I believe if anyone is worthy of this opportunity it would be you.” Damian wiped away the stray tears that managed to escape.

“What is the price I must pay?” Damian finally asked after a while. The creature just 'stared’ at Damian until the voice started echoing again through the void.

“I can change the current reality and make it into one where your loved ones are happy. Little one, in this reality you can not exist.” Damian gasped and stumbled backward falling on his rear. He sat in the creature’s hand contemplating the situation.

“Are you saying…that in a world where I exist, my family won’t be happy?” Damian said feeling overwhelmed by the situation.

“No, little one. There are realities where everyone can be happy, but in this scenario, that is the only one that’s possible.” Damian looked up at Sirius.

“I have to die for my family’s happiness.”

“Little one, you are not going to die. You are going to become one with the reality. Your soul will act as the cement that will hold the new reality and make it permanent. You will not die, but cease to exist.” Sirius explained softly.

Damian looked at him and just thought over his options. With everything that has happened over the last few weeks, his family deserved to be happy. He even offered to bring Timothy back. Everyone missed Timothy, his father hadn’t been the same since…He could make them all happy.

He died once already, Damian thought to himself, he actually died more than once. Maybe… maybe it would be better that way. Damian looked up at Sirius as he felt himself cave into the pressure of making his father happy.

“Are you sure? That you can bring Timothy back? Make them all happy?” Damian asked desperately as he swallowed down his fear.

“Yes, little one. I give you my word.” Sirius said nodding to him.

“Will it hurt?” He questioned shyly and he shook his head “at the end only.”

“Deal,” Damian said finally and Sirius nodded.

“Little one, there is something that you must remember. This is your choice.” Damian nodded and just stared blankly ahead not really focusing on anything.

He had no way to explain what just happened. He just agreed to give up his existence for his brothers…for his father. His gaze snapped back to Sirius.

“I want to make sure that you keep your word and bring Timothy back…I would also like to say goodbye as well.” Damian said but trailed off in the end.

“Of course little one. At dusk, Timothy will appear before you in your favorite part of woods. And by the end of nightfall you will disappear from their lives. There is something you must know little one…because you are giving up your existence for this…it would mean that you would have never been born. There is a very large possibility that they will not remember you at all.” Sirius warned, to which Damian just scoffed.

“Good, that way they won’t let my efforts go in vain.” Damian was left alone.

He woke up with a jolt back in his own room. He was sweating buckets and breathing harshly. He stared at his hand waiting for something, anything to believe what he just witnessed.

He had no proof that he really made the deal with Sirius but he felt it in his gut that it was true. He looked at his cellphone and he slept most of the day. It was already around two and he had a lot of preparations to do.

He stood and and dressed himself quickly. He went to the kitchen where he saw Jason and Dick. Dick’s smile brightened as soon as he saw him.

“Hey Lil D! You finally got some sleep huh? Here! Jason made breakfast and I helped!” Dick said cheerfully while Jason snorted.

“You mean I made breakfast and made sure you didn’t burn anything?” Damian raised an amused eyebrow at that.

Which only made Dick laugh some more and shake his head. Damian took a piece a paper and wrote down some coordinates and a time.

“I am heading to the manor. I need you to be here at this time. It is important.” Jason looked at the paper and back at Damian.

“Sure squirt, if you say it’s important I be there right on the dot.” Damian nodded satisfied and loomed at Dick hopefully.

“Hey Dami…maybe I should go with you to the manor. I can help you get the stuff you need and then we can head to the meeting place. You-” Dick was interrupted by Jason’s hand softly landing on his shoulder.

“Nah, don’t worry Dickie Bird. Look at his face, he knows what he’s doing.” Damian gave him a small smile and left.

Steadily Damian made his way to the Manor. He could see his hands trembling as he could feel sweat drops run down his face. He was having trouble thinking exactly what to tell his father.

They had fought, he had stormed out and now he had no idea how to fix it. He took one of his trembling hands and lifted it up to his face. His breath shook as he tried to gain control of it. The tremors became stronger and his breathing became erratic.

Eventually it turned into gasps as he tried to get a lungful of air. He stopped walking a long time ago and his mind kept racing. Before he knew tears started rolling down his face and small sobs overtook him. As he had no idea what he was supposed to tell his father. Or if he even should. Damian started to scold himself as he knew he couldn’t be weak, not now, not after accepting the opportunity for his loved ones’ happiness. He couldn’t be selfish, not now.

He harshly rubbed his eyes as he tried to regain control. In his mind, he already wasted too much time. When Damian was finally able to calm himself he arrived at the Manor. He walked in where he saw Pennyworth.

He approached him and straightened his spine as he held his head up. At that movement, he faltered, as it ended up looking stiff and uncomfortable. Alfred raised his eyebrow in a knowing way.

“Hello Master Damian, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Damian’s spine relaxed at the gentle tone and Damian manage a tiny smile.

“Likewise Pennyworth. I wish to speak to my father.“ Damian’s hands started trembling softly again.

"I am sorry to inform you, Master Damian. Master Bruce was called up for League business. He will not be back for at least two days.” Alfred informed him matter-of-factly.

Damian’s heart deflated as huge disappointment crushed his soul.

“Two days? Is there any way he can make an early return?” His voice cracked a bit on the end of his question.

“Master Damian, it seems it was an emergency. There is no possible way for him to return earlier than that.” Damian let out a miserable “oh.”

Damian scoffed as he rubbed his puffy eyes. He looked at Alfred as he open his mouth and close it once again.

Damian was not sure how to act without arising any suspicion from what he was planning to do. Damian felt his body shaking as he abruptly turned around, making sure to keep his expression hidden from the butler, that he saw more like a grandfather.

“I wish to see my pets Pennyworth.” He started walking towards the cave as he felt himself slow down his steps.

He took a deep breath and turned around. He made his way and saw himself in front of Pennyworth. Without thinking about it too much, scared that he would change his mind. He hugged Pennyworth. He pulled his arms around him and hugged him tightly. He put his head on his chest as felt the warmth of the butler spread through him.

“Oh my word! Young Master.” Alfred said startled, but did not hesitate to return the hug.

“Thank you Pennyworth. For everything.” Before Alfred could react, Damian let go and went to see his pets.

He made his way down the cave where all his pets were. One by one he hugged and kissed them muttering how proud he was of each and single one.

“You guys are my family too. Sirius said he will make my family happy. I am confident that you guys will have a glorious life such as you deserve.” He said to Alfred the cat, Titus and Batcow.

He made his way towards Goliath and hugged him as Goliath nuzzle against him.

“Don’t worry, I am certain that you will be with your family again because of this. I am sorry for taking them away, but you’ll be happy now.” He hiccuped the last part. He was aware that he did not have enough time to wander anymore.

“I must go. Thank you for taking care of me.” He said and left.

He made his way to the forest arriving ten minutes before the meeting time, his hands having not stopped trembling since he left the manor. His chest felt heavy as many different emotions swirled inside his head. Fear and worry were the emotions he felt most.

Time seemed to slow down as Damian could only hear his own heartbeat. He looked at the sun nervously as it would soon start to set. He started fidgeting as he realized that maybe it was all a dream, that maybe his desire overtook his mind and it was just playing a cruel joke in his mind. But he felt in his soul that Sirius was not a dream, but a being that had the power to make his family happy.

He took deep breath as he close his eyes as he force himself to calm down. His heart picked up its pace with every second that went by and he could not see either of his brothers.

His back slowly started to tense up and soon became as tight as a rod. He looked around desperately as he tried to locate any of his brothers.

In reality they weren’t late they still had five minutes before the sun started to set. He realize he should have asked them to come sooner as he had no idea on how this would play out. Not a second, later he saw both Jason and Dick making their way towards him.

In that moment his body relaxed a little as he saw Grayson smile and Jason smirk.

“Hey Babybat sorry we’re late but Dickiebird here decided to bring the entire apartment with us!” Jason said playfully as he rolled his eyes and showed Damian a picnic basket.

“Well of course! You only wanted to bring meat! And you know Damian’s vegetarian. Lil’ D don’t worry, big brother’s got you covered.” Dick said as he started pulling out some of Damian’s favorite snacks.

The only ones Grayson knew he like. A knot got stuck in his throat as he saw his brothers chatting happily, playfully setting up a picnic. Just because he asked them to come. No other reason than that. He tried to swallow down that knot but nothing, he didn’t feel any better. As he stared at the sun and noticed it descend.

“Richard, Jason.” Both their head snap towards Damian as their jaws dropped hearing their full names coming out of Damian’s mouth.

“Lil D…?” Dick’s voice went up slightly.

“I-” Damian started and then cut himself off as he struggled to figure out what to say. He hadn’t thought this through. He turned around and looked as the sky started changing into a curtains of oranges, reds and purples. Slowly dancing together, bringing out hope and the promise of a new tomorrow, a new future and most importantly, happiness for his family.

Damian was mesmerized by the sunset for a minute thinking that he was glad that he shared this place with his brothers.

When he turned around his brothers also looked mesmerized as they observed at the scene in front of them. Damian stared at the way Dick smiled and his eyes sparkled with the juvenile joy that he like to tease him about. Then he turned to Jason as his mouth curved into a small smile and his body was in a relaxed stance. In that moment, Damian decided that he actually prefered that view much better than the sunset.

Slowly his eyes widened as he unconsciously took a step back as behind his brothers, Timothy suddenly appeared. Alive…breathing. He actually was able to bring him back. He gasped and that broke his brothers trance as their eyes snapped towards him .

Dick’s eyebrow furrowed as he stared at Damian, whose whole demeanor changed in disbelief, wonder and…fear? Dick thought to himself in confusion.

“Dick…Jason…how?” A voice behind them asked.

Dick and Jason breath got stuck in their lungs as they slowly turned around. Dick hand went to his mouth as tears ran down his face in utter amazement.

“Babybird?” Jason asked as he took a hesitant step forward.

Happiness, relief and most of all surprise could be seen on Tim’s face as he nodded desperately. He tried to walk towards his brothers but he stumbled as his strength started to leave him. In an instant, both brothers were broken from their trances as they went to help thim. Dick ran towards Tim and he grabbed his face in his hands as he sobbed happily.

“How…? I thought…Tim you were dead….you were dead.” Dick said between hiccups as he touched Tim forehead with his own.

In the meantime, Jason helped both his brothers stay standing. Tim shook his head desperately.

“No…no they took me…and you guys…how?” Tim said confusion heavy in his voice.

“How were you guys able to save me? Where are we? Why are we here?” Tim ask question after question rapidly without even taking a second to breathe. As he tried to understand what was happening.

Dick was to focused on making sure that his little brother was actually there. That he was safe, that he was real, that it was really their Timmy. Jason was the one who answered his questions.

“I don’t know Timmy…we thought you were dead….we came here because Damian invited us here. We thought it was just for a picnic…Damian?” The moment Jason look up he was shocked.

Damian stood there with the saddest smile he had ever seen. He looked content, but at the same time, resign to the scene in front of him. He didn’t move to join his brothers and just stared at the scene before him as he felt at peace with what was happening. He, at the moment, had all his brothers’ attention.

“What did you do?” Tim ask quietly as his eyes widened in horror. Damian…he was disappearing slowly. The scene was heartbreakingly beautiful.

Damian stood there as the sky started to fade from orange to dark violets and blue. In the dark of the sky Damian was the only source of light that they had. As little fireflies started appearing where Damian started to fade. Starting with his legs and steadily working its way up. The fireflies adorned the night as they mixed with the darkness and the sky making it seen as they were surrounded by stars dancing in the night. Damian stared down at himself as he let out a wet laugh.

“What did you do?” Dick yelled scared as he saw as his little brother slowly disappear before him.

Damian looked up at them and gave them a watery smile. Tears ran down his face leaving a glowing trace.

“I fixed it.” He said hiccuping at then end. He lifted his hand as he slowly saw it start to glow and fade into hundreds of fireflies.

“Now you can be happy…finally happy.” Damian eyes begged for them to understand him.

“I made a deal…and they promised me your happiness. They said they could bring Timothy back…your happiness means the world to me.” Damian admitted as he stared at his brother, love resonating with every single one of his words.

“Damian…what was the deal?…no….break it..don’t do it! You can’t! You can’t die! Not because of me! Not again!” Timothy was the one to yell this time and Damian shook his head softly.

“No…Timothy I can’t I made my decision. I-” Jason cut him off with a snarl.

“No! You listen here Damian. We went to hell to bring you back! I won’t let you throw that away with your sacrificial bullshit! What makes you think this is what we want? Dammit Damian! We care about you! Don’t do this to us…not again-…” Jason finished the last part begging. Dick took a hesitant step forward as his body shook with uncontrollable sobs.

“Lil D what are you doing? We need you! I NEED YOU! Please think of what your doing we can find another way. Please don’t go…Damian you can’t die on me again. I love you…I love you…you’re my son please…Don’t make me lose my son again. I love you I love you I love you.” Dick repeated over and over and over.

Damian stared at him as he smiled at them sadly.

“I also love you…I love all of you…You deserve better…this is why I am doing this. You all deserve to be happy. I have the power to do it…so why not?” He stared at them and even Jason was crying at the moment.

“Shit kid…no, I’ll give you the Red Hood doll if you don’t go.” Jason tried to reason as his brother started to disappear more and more.

Damian let out a wet chuckle and shook his head.

“Don’t go, please, not again. What makes you think that you not being here would make us happy? You can’t do this Damian. I FORBID IT!!” Dick’s voice broke as he yelled and started walking towards Damian.

He simply smiled at Dick and open his arms. Dick sprinted towards his little brother, his son. He jumped toward Damian trying to hold him, to keep him here, to save him.

“I love you Dick…please be happy.” Damian said so softly, so tenderly that Dick felt every ounce of truth in it.

Dick put his arms out to catch Damian to hug him, but the moment he touched him. Damian’s body disappeared completely. Dick fell to the ground as he open up his hand and a lone firefly flew out and disappeared. Taking with it their little brother.

“NO!” A broken sob was the only thing heard through the quiet, dark echoes of the forest.

[nicknchris09]

Once In A Lifetime Chapter 48 Happy Days

Melissa's POV

We landed in Georgia by the afternoon.  We got a rental vehicle and drove to the small town.  Took a little time and we finally got to our destination.  The older kids quickly got out of the car as I hesitated.  Seth looked over to me as I looked at the house.  "Are you ready, baby?"

"I don't think I'll ever be ready but I know I have to suck it up and go inside."  I said, sadly.

Seth reached over and took my hand.  "I'll be there for you every step of the way."

I gave him a soft smile.  "I know you will be."

I turned to find only James was in the car.  I signed to him as I said, "You ready to go inside?"

He nodded with a small smile.  We got out and made our way to the porch.  The other three boys was on the porch as my mother was there saying hello to them.  I heard her say to the boys, "Look how big all of you got.  I can't believe that my grandbabies are getting so big."  

I got to the top of the stairs and joked, "If you feed them, you would see why.  I can't keep food in my house."  

My mother smiled at me and quickly hugged me.  I hugged her back.  "I'm so glad you are here."

"Me too."  I said, softly.

She pulled back and moved over to Seth.  She hugged him, which surprised him as she never did before.  But he hugged her back.  She pulled back and asked with a small smile, "How are you doing, Seth?"

"I'm doing good."  He said to her with a smile.  

I think it made him feel good that for once she was genuine with him.  Then she moved over to James and asked, "How are you doing?"

He signed, "Good."

It was only one word he signed and she didn't understand.  She looked at Seth and I to interpret.  Seth quickly said, "He said he is good."

I was a little annoyed that my parents never bothered to learn to sign for their grandson.  Rachael and her family as well as Ron and Xiang learned to sign.  But my parents never did.  But I tried not to let that bother me now as there was so much more going on.  I looked at her.  "Where is he?"

"In his den."  She simple told him.

I said, "I'm going to see him."

"I'm sure he would love that."  She said with a smile.  Then she said to the boys, "I made cookies, who wants some?"

The boys got excited and Seth said, "I'll go with you all."

He knew I needed the time alone with my father.  We walked inside and I headed straight for the den as the boys and Seth headed to the kitchen with my mother.  I got to the door and slowly opened it.  I looked in to see my father sitting there, watching tv.  He looked the same.  He didn't look sick but I knew otherwise.  I slowly walked in and said, softly, "Daddy."

He looked over at me and smiled.  "Princess."

It's been such a long time since he called me that.  I, instantly, teared up and rushed over to him as he stood up.  I hugged him once I got to him and he hugged me back.  I cried in his arms.  "Daddy, I'm so sorry."

"No, princess, I am.  I shouldn't have been so stubborn and been more mindful of what you wanted."  He said to me as he held me tightly.

I pulled away.  "Daddy, I should have broken the silence a long time ago instead of waiting for something like this to happen to do it for me.  I shouldn't have waited till you were sick.  I wasted so much precious time."

He moved his hand to my cheek and wiped the tears away.  "Lissa, you stood up for what you believed in.  You stood up for the man you love.  I couldn't be angry at you for that.  He is a good man.  He stuck by you with everything and has been a good father to those kids.  Even when they weren't his and he made them his.  I was a fool not to see that.  I am the one to blame.  I should have given Seth more of a shot.  He proved me wrong in thinking all men would just treat you like dirt.  Cause he treats you like a queen and I couldn't ask for anything more for you.  I wish I could have seen that earlier and maybe we could have had more of a relationship."

I just cried even more and hugged him again.  "Daddy, I don't want to lose you."

"I know, princess."  He said, softly.

After some time, we emerged from the den and found all the kids with Seth and my mother in the living room.  Seth looked over to make sure I was okay.  The kids saw their grandfather.  "PAPA!"  The three older kids yelled and all four kids ran over to my father and hugged him.  

He smiled as he hugged them.  "I missed you guys."

They pulled away and Jacob and Josh started to talk to him about everything going on in their lives.  My dad picked James up as they did and KJ just stood to the side as they did.  I knew it was bothering him the most what was going on with his grandfather.  He didn't shed one tear but I knew he wasn't far from breaking.  Finally my dad said, "Okay, okay, boys.  I will have my time with you.  Just give me a moment."  They moved away from him and he put James down as he walked back to Seth.  My dad looked at KJ and noticed the sad expression he had.  He walked over to KJ and put a hand to the back of his neck.  He knew as I did KJ was on the verge.  Just looking at his grandfather face to face made him lose it.  He started to cry and my father pulled him close to him and hugged him.  "It's okay, son."

"Papa."  Was all KJ said as he cried.  My dad held him in his arms as everyone watched.  

I teared up as well again.  A few tears slide down my face as I saw my son hurt knowing his grandfather would pass.  My son gripped him tight.  He finally calmed his tears.  I think he needed that cry.  My dad pulled away from him and gave him a soft smile.  "You good?"  He asked my oldest son.

KJ nodded and gave him a weak smile.  He stepped away from KJ and I quickly moved over to him.  I moved an arm around him as I wanted my son's pain to go away.  Then my mother said, "Okay, I know you all have to be hungry after your trip.  So, why don't we get some lunch."

Everyone agreed and started to walk to the kitchen.  I stood back as I needed a breather.  The kids followed my parents but I noticed Seth stayed back as well.  Once the room was clear, he moved over to me and asked me, "Are you okay?"

I nodded, sadly.  Seth took my in his arms as he knew I wasn't.  "Baby, I'm here no matter what.  You don't have to put on a show for me."

I sighed and breathed, "I just can't believe what is happening."

"I know, love.  But you have your family.  You know that."  He told me.

"I know."  I said, softly.

"Come on.  Let's go have lunch with our family."  He moved away from me but kept an arm around me.  

I smiled at him and we moved into the kitchen with everyone else.

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Seth's POV

Everything was going almost perfect.  It was grim and gloomy at first.  But as Ralph interacted more with everyone, the more the mood changed.  There was more smiles and laughs.  We had dinner together and once it was over, Ralph walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.  "How about we get a drink, Seth?"

I looked over at Lissa as it made me a little nervous.  He never asked this of me as long as I have known him.  Lissa gave me a reassuring smile as she helped her mother clear the table.  I looked at Ralph and said with a smile, "I would love that."

We walked away and walked to the den.  He went to a cabinet and opened it up.  There stood different liquors and glasses.  He asked me, "What is your poison?"

"Well, I am a Jack man, myself."  I told him.

He smiled.  "I actually have that."

He quickly pulled out two glasses and took the Jack out.  He poured it in the two glasses and picked them up.  He walked over to me and handed me a glass.  "Thanks."  I said with a small smile.

"Let's sit down and talk.  We have never done that."  He said to me.

I was a bit nervous but I did sit down with him.  He took a drink from his glass as I did too.  He looked at me and said, slowly, "Seth, I just wanted to say I am sorry."

I smiled at him and then looked down at my glass.  I looked back at him as I said, "It's okay, Ralph.  I understand."

"No, Seth, it's inexcusable for how I acted.  You have been nothing but good for my daughter.  I see she is really happy with you.  I am glad she found someone who makes her happy.  She loves you and I can see you love her too.  You have done so much for her and those boys.  Even stepped up after the boys' father died.  Not many men would have had the courage to do that.  I command you for that."  He said to me.

I smiled at this.  "It's nothing.  I love your daughter and I love those boys.  I would do anything for them."

"I know you would."  He said with a smile.  Then he sat back in his seat and took another drink.  Then he looked at me and cracked a smile.  "So, does Lissa still do all the talking for you?"

I laughed and nodded.  "But that is only cause I am a smart man.  I know to let her do all the talking as she feels she is always right."

"Don't you know all women are."  He cracked.

I laughed again as did he.  "One thing I have learned being married to Lissa is happy wife means happy life and that is so true."

"Oh yeah.  I will tell you a little secret."  He leaned over to me.  I looked at him as I waited for him to tell me.  "My wife keeps my balls in the nightstand."

I laughed loudly.  "I swear, Lissa keeps mine in her purse."  I joked back.

He laughed as well.  I smiled at him as it felt great we were finally getting like this.  "Oh, and another thing.  I swear they train us without us knowing.  But I figured it out."

"How?"  I asked.

"Well, one night, we were in bed and she was reading a book as I was watching tv.  She told me she was hot, so I got up and turned on the fan.  As I got back into bed, I realized, holy shit!  She had trained me."  He joked.

I laughed again then something hit me.  "Holy shit!"

He laughed.  "Let me guess.  It dawned on you that you are being trained too."  

"Yeah."  I said, almost in shock.

"Get use to it, bub.  Women train us, not the other way around.  They just say they are hungry or hot or cold and we get up to handle the problem."  He smiled.

"Apparently I have much to learn."  I said to him with a smile.

"I'll teach you as much as I know.  I still don't know it all and have been married for almost forty years."  He said to me.

I said to him, "Forty year, huh?"

"Yeah."  He breathed.  "It definitely has been some amazing years with that woman."

I smiled at that.  "I want that with Lissa."

"As long as you understand, she is right and you are wrong in every argument, then you will be okay."  He smiled at me.

"I think I already learned that."  I cracked.

After another half an hour of just talking, we walked out of the den and into the kitchen where the women were finishing up cleaning.  I moved over to Lissa and put an arm around her.  I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head.  She asked, "How did it go?"

"Good."  I smiled at her.

She smiled at me and I looked down at her.  She seemed to be doing alright now.  But I knew when the day came that he would pass, it would be a sad day.  But now we were all smiling together.  This wasn't as gloomy as we all expected but that was cause Ralph didn't let his diagnosis get to him.  He just enjoyed the time he had left.  I couldn't help but to look up to the man at that moment.

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[onceandalwaysenglishmajor]

In Which Yuuri Talks to Katsudon

This is the first chapter of Howl’s Moving Castle reimagined with the Yuri!!! On Ice cast.

It is quite the misfortune to be born the eldest of three. Everyone knows that you are destined to fail most spectacularly of the three when you set out to seek your fortune.  Yuuri Katsuki was the eldest of three, and not even poor, which might have given him some slim chance of success. Instead, his family owned a small onsen that did quite well. True, his own mother died when he was very small, and his brother Phichit even younger, and his father married a childhood friend, Minako. This is where the third brother, Otabek, came from. Now, to follow tradition, this should have turned Yuuri and Phichit into Evil Step-siblings, but all three boys grew up to be very kind. If Otabek could be a bit stubborn, and Phichit could be a bit dramatic, that was nothing to be held against them.

           About a year before this story really begins, whispers of the Witch of the Waste reached their small village. Apparently the Witch had threatened the king’s daughter, and the king had sent his personal wizard, Seung-gil into the Waste to deal with her. The rumor said he promptly got himself killed. So when an ominous black castle started moving around the hills just beyond town, people were understandably concerned, and there was much debate as to whether the Witch had left the Waste to terrorize the populace like she had in their grandfather’s day. Soon, however, they discovered that the castle didn’t belong to the Witch at all. It belonged to the Wizard Victor, which was hardly better. Though he seemed content to stay in the hills, it was whispered that he liked to eat the hearts of young people, or steal their souls. So the young people were constantly lectured not to go out alone, which was a huge annoyance. Yuuri wondered what Victor did with the souls he collected.

           He was soon distracted from any thoughts of the Wizard Victor, though, by the death of his father. Minako discovered that the boys’ school fees had left the onsen quite in debt.

           “I’ll have to find good apprenticeships for you,” Minako said sadly. “I just can’t afford to keep all three of you here. Phichit first. Dear, I’ve placed you in the local bakery. The owner is a friend of mine, and has agreed to take you on. You’ve always been a fair hand in the kitchen, so you should do quite well there.” Phichit just laughed.

           “A good thing indeed,” was all he said. Yuuri could tell that Phichit wasn’t pleased, but he didn’t say anything else. Minako let out a small sigh of relief, as Phichit could throw quite the tantrum when he wanted to.

           “Now, Otabek, I know you’re full young to be out in the world working, so I’ve done some thinking on what will give you a nice long apprenticeship. Do you remember my school friend Celestino?”

           “Ciao Ciao,” said Otabek, “the one who talks so much.” Yuuri winced just a little at the thought of quiet Otabek at the mercy of the talkative Ciao Ciao.

           “Isn’t he a wizard?” Otabek asked.

           “Yes,” Minako continued excitedly, with clients all over the valley and connections in the capitol. You’ll be set for life after studying under Celestino.”

           “He’s nice enough,” Otabek conceded in his quiet way. Yuuri nodded along with these decisions. Otabek would have magic and rich friends, just as a youngest child destined to make his fortune should. Phichit would have a trade, and a good chance of finding a spouse and settling down. As for himself, Yuuri knew what was coming.

           “Now Yuuri,” Minako said, “as the eldest, it’s only right that you inherit the onsen. So you’ll be my apprentice and learn how to manage the inn. How does that sound, Yuuri?”

           Yuuri could hardly say that he felt it was his fate and was simply resigned to doing nothing of much import with his life. So he just nodded and smiled softly.

           Yuuri helped Otabek pack his belongings and load them in the cart that would take him over the hills, past the Wizard Victor’s castle, to Celestino’s. Otabek didn’t say anything, but Yuuri knew he was nervous. Phichit refused all help packing, throwing everything to a pillow case and slinging it over his shoulder before heading to town, hamster cage tucked under one arm. That left Yuuri alone in the onsen. Other than a few quick notes from his brothers, saying they had reached their respective destinations and settled in, Yuuri didn’t hear from them. As for his own apprenticeship, there wasn’t much Minako could teach him that Yuuri didn’t already know, having grown up in the onsen. Yuuri mostly stayed in the kitchen (he was a better cook than Phichit, even, and definitely better than Minako) though Minako did try to teach him how to deal with the customers, convince them that they wanted a meal and a beer after their bath. Yuuri’s anxiety meant he wasn’t much good at this, preferring to hide in the kitchen and talk to the dishes he was preparing instead of people.

           As May Day approached, Yuuri admitted that his life was rather dull. He cooked. He tended the onsen. He listened to the gossip in the dining room, who ran off with a count, the Wizard Victor’s castle had moved again, whisper whisper, he caught a girl across the valley last month, whisper whisper, hopefully the weather would be good for planting crops this week. And Yuuri hid in the kitchen, talking to the food he cooked, or skittered around the dining room, collecting dirty dishes and trying not to be noticed.

           Yuuri knew he should walk into town and visit Phichit. After all, it was quite silly that he hadn’t seen his brother in months. But he didn’t go. He couldn’t seem to find the time, or the energy, or he remembered that on his own he was in danger from the Wizard Victor… every day it seemed more difficult to go see Phichit.

           “This is ridiculous,” Yuuri chided himself. “It’s only a couple streets over… if I run…” Yuuri promised himself that he would go see Phichit when the onsen was closed for May Day celebrations.

           May Day arrived and the streets were full of people in their best clothes, fully intent on having a good time. He had a couple of things to finish at the inn, but he felt genuinely excited, watching through the window. But when he actually stepped out of the door, Yuuri did not feel excited at all. It was too much. Too much noise, too many people. Living like and old man the past couple months, rarely leaving the onsen, had apparently made his anxiety worse. He clung to the walls, trying to stay out of the way of the revelers. Why had he wanted his life to be interesting again? Yuuri broke down and ran toward the square. The square was, if anything, worse. Crowds of slightly inebriated young men swaggered around, accosting finely dressed girls and each other, while the girls walked around in pairs, ready to be accosted, or try their hand at accosting the boys. All of this was perfectly normal May Day flirting, and Yuuri should be right in the middle of it, but that scared him too. And when a young man in a particularly elaborate blue-and-silver suit with trailing sleeves spotted Yuuri and decided to accost him too, Yuuri tried to melt into the doorway he was hiding in. The young man tilted his head in surprise.

           “It’s ok, little mouse,” he said kindly. “I just wanted to buy you a drink.” He looked at Yuuri with pity. Yuuri felt rather ashamed –he was acting quite ridiculous after all--- and the man almost devastatingly attractive. Silver hair flopped over one eye, leaving only one brilliant blue eye visible. He’s older than I thought, Yuuri noted, in his late twenties at least.

           “Oh, no thank-you,” Yuuri murmured to the man who was still watching him. “I’m… I’m on my way to see my brother.”

           “Then by all means,” the silver-haired man laughed, gesturing grandly for Yuuri to move past him. “Who am I to keep such an attractive man from his brother? Would you like me to walk with you, since you seem so scared?” he asked kindly. Yuuri blushed in embarrassment for his anxiety and ridiculousness.

           “N-n-n-no!” Yuuri stuttered. “No thank-you, sir!” he gasped and darted away, sure he imagined the muttered, “More’s the pity,” as he slipped past the man with the silvery hair and sparkling blue eyes.

           The bakery was packed when Yuuri got there. Yuuri found Phichit in line with other apprentices behind the counter, surrounded by a group of admirers. He twisted pastry bags, handing each one over the counter with a small smile. Yuuri fought his way to the counter. Phichit noticed him. He looked shaken for just a moment before he smiled, a real smile, and shouted, “Yuuri!”

           “Can I talk to you?’ Yuuri yelled. “Somewhere?” he gestured helplessly at the crowded shop.

           “Just a moment!” Phichit yelled back. He turned and whispered to the girl next to him, and she stepped up to take his place, to the visible disappointment of the crowd. Phichit opened a flap in the counter, gesturing Yuuri through. Phichit grabbed his wrist and dragged Yuuri to the back room.

           “Oh Phichit, I’m so glad to see you!” Yuuri said, settling onto a convenient stool with a huff. Phichit absently handed him a cream cake, Yuuri’s favorite.

           “You may need this. And I’m glad you’re sitting down. Because I’m not Phichit. I’m Otabek.”

[ecotone99]

[SP] [FN] The Boy and the Djinn

Thomas looked upon the lamp. It was rusty and old. He had found it in a chest, stashed far into the dusty corners of the attic. Besides the lamp, there was a silver grail with four sapphire gems embedded in it. There was also the tip of a spear and silk sash that gleamed many colours. There he also found a letter, the only passage of the letter with any coherency mentioned the lamp:

... from the city of Antioch. The Magi showed me the lamp and told me how in the age of Solomon creatures called Djinn walked beside us. They had the power of angels, but were granted the freedom of choice just like Man. Men by the time of David and Solomon were waging war upon the Djinn. After a major battle, many Djinn were killed, but the leader and more powerful ones were captured. King Solomon had them trapped in inanimate objects and cursed to grant the wishes of the who so ever held the mastery of the object. Many were destroyed over the years…

Thomas was amazed at the contents of the letter, his gaze falling to the old-looking lamp. He put the letter back into the chest, then grabbed the lamp delicately as if he were grabbing the arc of the covenant.

Formulating a plan he quickly stashed the chest back in its little crock of the attic. Once again hidden from curious and prying eyes. But, making a mental note of its location knowing he would come back to it another time. The lamp he stashed in a pocket of his coat, with great care.

He quietly left the attic. Heading for his room which was on the 2’nd floor, he was currently on the third floor of his family’s Yorkshire estate.

The staircase was but a few guest rooms away and the staff were in another wing of the estate, where his parents were holding a party currently for his elder brother. He knew he would not be missed, at times like this, he was glad for that.

He quickly walked to the stairs. Listening and looking around to make sure none of the servants came looking for him. At the staircase certain no one would be disturbing him, he hopped on the rails sliding down, a large carefree grin on his face. He knew if his mother ever saw she would chew his ear off at his behaviour.

Once at the bottom, he hopped, skipped and ran toward his room. Not having to worry about aristocratic etiquette when no eyes prying at his less than ideal behaviour. When alone he was allowed the privilege to be, just Thomas, a boy with a burning curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. But, when around others he was Thomas the second son, the spare, of the Earl of York. An aristocratic who had to keep up the reputation of his father, family and title. He truly did not enjoy such things.

Once in his room, he took the lamp out of his pocket. He placed it beside his pen and notebook and then went to grab a well of ink.

Thomas sat on an old office chair given to him by his now-deceased grandfather. He dipped his pen in the ink and started writing his observations on the lamp, as well as, on the contents of the letter fresh in his mind. He also drew the lamp from the front, back and sides trying not to miss any important details. After an hour he and several pages filled.

Thomas now leaned in the chair observing the lamp in his hands. On the side, there seemed to be some engravings, which looked like writing. Though there was a lot of dirt and rust to be sure. He used the sleeve of his shirt to try and clean it off and saw two inscriptions one in Arabic and another in Greek. Sadly he could not read Arabic nor Greek. The only thing he could understand was something to do with the number 3, used twice in the inscription.

As Thomas closely inspected the inscription, a cloud of smoke emerged from the lamp. Energy crackled within as it began to take form, a human form. Within a few seconds, the form became that of a woman, one who looked to be from Mesopotamia. Dark hair and eyes, a sharp regal nose and lips in a constant superior smirk.

Thomas who had yet to look away from his inspection of the lamp did not see the creature created from smoke staring down upon him. She coughed to gain his attention.

Thomas jumped in his seat, dropping the lamp and looked about in a frantic motion, before his eyes laid upon the floating women before him.

“So you are the one who had called upon me?” Thomas observed that she spoke with a slight accent that reminded him of gypsies he had seen in London a few weeks back.

“Um, sorry. What do you mean called upon you?”

“That you are the new master of the lamp.” Thomas’s eyes darted to the lamp on his lap, then back to the strange women. His eyes suddenly lit up with curiosity at the woman before him. Remembering the passage from the letter he read he put some of the pieces together.

“A Djinn. You’re a Djinn.”

“Why, yes I am.” Thomas heard the pride in her voice.

“Um, what would your name be, uh, madam Djinn?” She was quite surprised at the question. It was rare to gain a master who saw Djinn as a living being, most just saw them as tools.

“Aisha. My name is Aisha. And what would be your name young man?”

“Thomas, Madam. Thomas Yorkshire the second son of the Earl of York?” Thomas then got off the chair and bowed to the lady, grabbing her hand at kidding it as greeting just as his mother and tutors taught, even if the teaching had to be practically beaten into him.

“Well Thomas, to answer that question in your head, I am Aisha a Djinn. I grant the wishes of whom so ever owns the lamp. As you seem to be the current owner, you are the master whose three wishes I will grant. And yes only three, You may not wish for more wishes.” Aisha still had a blush on her cheeks from the introduction.

Thomas took in the information Aisha had just given him. He sat back down and wondered what it was he could wish for. Thomas was a practical person at times, so the more he thought about the more he realized anything he wished for could just as easily be bought by his parents. “What may I wish for, that I could buy with my wealth?”

“Well maybe you have no material wishes, but what of the immaterial, like power?”

“I am the son of an Earl. Many would do whatever command of them.”

“Come now child, there must be something. Something deep down that you desire. Something you would give up everything to have.”

Thomas thought, and there was. Thoughts of his parents who only seemed to have eyes for his older brother, who was also the heir to the family fortune and titles. Not that those things ever truly interested him. He remembered his Grandfather, who had died only a year prior, who nurtured his curiosity and thirst for knowledge throughout his childhood. After his death, he had been alone. He mostly kept to the company of the library and the many books and tombs within. But, he had no one to share his ideas and discoveries with and he wished to have that again.

Looking Aisha deep within her eyes he told her, “I want a friend, a companion to share everything with. And I want to go on an adventure, just like the ones I read about in my books.”

Aisha cracked her knuckles.” Well, just state those as wishes and we will begin.”

“No,” Thomas stated “I want you to be my friend Aisha. You and I, could go on many adventures and see the world and learn all sorts of knowledge and wisdom together.”

Aisha was again stunned by Thomas’s remark. Most would ask for wishes and be done with it, she would again be trapped in the lamp, awaiting her next master, granting more wishes. But, here this child who knew her for only a few minutes wanted to befriend her.

“Currently my parents are having a party on the other side of the estate, so all the servants are busy. We can sneak out and go to London, then find a ship to our first destination.

“And what, may I ask, would this first destination be?”

“Well, France first, maybe Spain, because I can speak the languages there more easily. But, afterwards, we could go to a few places in the Mediterranean or North Africa, head to Mesopotamia then to Persia and the lands of the great Khan. We could even see the ancient Lands of India and the silk courts of the Chinese Dragon Emperor.”

Aisha could not help but latch on to Thomas’ enthusiasm. All the wonders he talked of seemed so tantalizing to someone who had been trapped in a lamp for a few millennia.

“And, you know how to get us there?” she asked hesitantly.

“Nope, but getting there is half the fun isn’t it. At least that’s what my grandfather would say.”

“Okay then, you get us out of the estate to London and on to a boat and then…?”

“I guess we will see, won’t we?”

“Yes. I guess. Now, pack what you can. Pack light, you will be carrying this yourself.”

“Okay.” Thomas jumped off his chair running in a circle before getting his bearings. He grabbed the explorers’ backpack his GrandFather gave him. Putting in a few sets of clothes, some books, notebooks and pencils, and all the money he had saved up through allowance, which was at least 100 Pounds.

“Okay, get back in the lamp. It's easier to sneak out if there isn’t a person floating over my shoulder.” Aisha snorted but went into the lamp without question.

Thomas looked upon his room, not knowing this would be the last time he would see it in this state. For all he would lose today, he would never regret grabbing the lamp from the attic and the life-changing decision he made on the spot.

Through the years Thomas would make many memories and friends. Go through many trials and tribulations. He would cry in pain and joy, in loss and exhaustion. But he would prevail through it all he would become one of the most learned scholars to walk the earth. Learning natural philosophy, politics, theology, culture, language and much, much more. He would make his own strides in these areas. Coming up with his own theories on religion, culture and the origin of the human race.

Through it all, Aisha would stay beside him getting to see sights she never knew, taste food that was mouth-watering and smell some of the most interesting things, and through Thomas’s intelligence, she gained her freedom when he one day wished her free from her curse.

submitted by /u/Exibit_Viewer [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/3gaz2RA

[mrswhozeewhatsis]

A Woman of Letters (Getting a Feel for Sam Winchester) - Chapter 15

Summary:  You’ve just opened an occult bookstore in Lebanon, Kansas, when you fall for a tall, handsome customer…literally. You soon find out that there’s more to the world than you ever suspected, including you. Discovering your heritage puts you directly in a witch’s crosshairs, though, so the Winchesters offer to take you in and teach you how to protect yourself. As you discover your own family history with the supernatural and your own hidden talents, you can’t help but wish a certain brother was as excited about your interest as you are.

Total length: 43 chapters, 70,247 words - Read on AO3 - Series masterlist

Chapter word count: 3345 words

Pairing: Sam x Reader

Warnings: Canon-level angst and violence

You

You were lying quietly in the dark trying to go to sleep when Dean knocked on your door to check on you. When you answered, he sat down on your bed next to you, looking you over until he seemed satisfied. He told you to come find him if you needed anything and squeezed your hand. Impulsively, you gave him a quick hug and thanked him for the offer. He also gave you a piece of paper with a phone number on it and told you Cas wanted you to have it.

“He said you can text him if you have any questions about your gift, or if you want to practice with him some more. By the way, he loves texting. Emoticons, man. Expect a lot of emoticons.” Dean shook his head and smiled while you chuckled.

The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, with Dean bringing you something to eat around dinner time, and the two of you watching some TV in his room afterwards. That night you slept well, without any nightmares, and woke up the next morning feeling almost disappointed by it. You pulled the pillow Sam had used to your nose and sniffed it, enjoying the scent of Sam coming from it. Something about him just made you feel better, no matter what.

You didn’t run into Sam again until after breakfast that day, finding him in the library, looking back and forth between one of your uncle’s journals and another large tome. His hair was falling into his face a little, and your hands itched to touch it. Looking around, you saw the other journals in a stack farther away on the table, unopened. You had looked through them once or twice, but couldn’t make anything out except dates. There were five journals all total, with entries ranging from what looked like one sentence to some as long as many pages.

“Hey, Sam. How’s it going? Making heads or tails of it?” You sat down next to him and peered over his shoulder. The book he was glancing at occasionally had the same markings as in your uncle’s journals. “You found the language!” You looked at Sam in surprise, and he looked up at you with a small smile.

“Yeah. I actually recognized it as soon as I saw it. It’s Enochian. Your family must have been really hard core, because this first journal is from before your grandfather’s death. To have learned Enochian as a kid is impressive. So far, I’m reading about a crush he had on a girl named Margaret and a failed geography test. Anyway, if I run into any problems, I’ll just call Cas.” You shook your head.

“Enochian?”

“Enochian is the language of the angels. There are a lot of spells and sigils that use Enochian.”

Sam seemed far more interested in the sixty-year old journal than in chatting with you, so you decided to leave him to it. You got up, and started wandering through the stacks of books, looking at titles and wondering about the new view of the world you were getting. You came across a book on signs and sigils, and decided to see if you could find out what the unknown charms on your bracelet were. You took the book back to the table, sat down next to Sam, and started paging through it.

While Sam was distracted, you watched him. His eyes moved back and forth between the books in front of him, and every now and then, his lips would move just a little. You studied the stubble on his chin, the ever-changing color of his eyes, and the gentleness of his hands as his fingers caressed the pages. You pushed away the thought of how his fingers would feel on your skin. Now is not the time for romance, Y/N! Not when you’ve got a witch after you!

You took a breath and concentrated on the energy coming off of him. You got a steady feeling from him. It was clear, it was focused, and it was warm. This work…this was obviously easy for him. For a moment, you wondered what it would feel like to feel this warmth from him while he was looking into your eyes or holding you. If he did…you’d be in serious trouble. You shook your head and pushed back disappointment. Obviously, you don’t appeal to him as much as a 50-year old journal. Get over it. You dragged your eyes away from his soft hair and broad shoulders with a sigh.

Half an hour later, Sam made a choked noise in his throat. You looked up at him, and studied the distressed look on his face.

“What are you reading, Sam? What’s he saying?” Sam looked up at you sadly, and then put his eyes back on the page.

“I’m up to the point where your grandfather died. Their father passed away shortly before of natural causes, according to the Men of Letters, but apparently it was actually a household accident. Your uncle had written something about it being ironic that a trip down the stairs would take the life of someone who fought against evil. But when your grandfather died, Lloyd didn’t know exactly what happened. All he knew was the Men of Letters were all gone, the chapter house they were in that night burned to the ground, and he was now the man of the house, with a mother, a sister-in-law, and a nephew to protect. He had just graduated high school, he knew there was untold evil in the world, and he realized he had no one to teach him how to protect his family. On top of that, he had to get a paying job to help support everyone.” Sam paused with a heavy sigh. “Your uncle was afraid, but he knew he couldn’t show it to his family. Apparently the Men of Letters were sticklers about not telling the women in their lives about what was really out there. It’s just sad how alone he was. I can’t imagine being in his position.” Sam ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, I’ve lost Dean plenty of times, but I never had anyone else depending on me at the same time.” Sam huffed and sat back in his chair, and you watched pain flicker over his face. “I don’t know how your uncle did it.” You gazed at Sam sadly, desperately trying to contain your urge to hug him and comfort him.

“You said you’ve lost Dean? Do you mind if I ask?” Sam looked up at you with a measure of fear in his eyes.

“Huh. Well, in this line of work, death is expected.” Sam’s eyes dropped to his hands. “However, when you’re a Winchester, it doesn’t always stick.” Sam looked up at you nervously. You raised your eyebrows.

“You mean, Dean has died? Like literally died?” You tried to wrap your mind around the concept of Dean having died, yet still being alive somewhere in the bunker.

“Yeah. We both have. A few times.” You felt your jaw go slack. You tried to speak, but your brain couldn’t process what you were hearing enough to make a response, so your mouth just flapped open and closed like a fish. You finally got your wits together and decided to ask the questions you should have been asking since you arrived.

“Okay. You know my story, give or take a few irrelevant details. It’s time for you to talk. What the hell are you guys?” You immediately felt a rush of something sour that you couldn’t quite place come from Sam and you realized what you just said. “Oh, God, Sam, I didn’t mean that like it sounded! I’m so sorry. I just, well, you and your brother…Ugh.” you paused to take a breath and think before you tripped over your words any further. “You have the King of Hell on speed dial, an angel best friend, an underground clubhouse that makes the Batcave look like a garden shed, and you talk about killing monsters and dying like it’s just another Tuesday.” You shook your head and tried to settle your thoughts, but Dean surprised you by speaking from behind you.

“Oh, honey, it’s only Monday.” You turned around and caught the teasing smile on his face. You recognized the feeling of comfort you suddenly had as coming from Dean, now that you knew what it was, and returned his smile. You turned back to Sam, but still got that sour feeling. He gave you a smile, though, and worked to reassure you.

“It’s okay, Y/N, I know what you mean. We’re hunters. But, we’re also legacies.” Sam waved a hand at the room. “And, we’ve been other things, too, some of which we’re not proud of.” The sour feeling got stronger as Sam looked down for a moment. “But, just know that we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe, no matter what.” The sour feeling improved somewhat as Sam looked into your eyes. You could tell he hoped you believed him and trusted him. That much was shining in his eyes. In spite of all the muddled feelings and mixed signals you were getting from him, you knew you’d trust him with your life. And all your heart wanted to do was make that sour feeling go away. You made sure you were looking in his eyes when you responded.

“I know.” You took his hand in yours and squeezed it, not tearing your eyes away from his. While you sat there for a long moment, your eyes locked and hands grasped, the flow of energy you got from him changed. Armed with the knowledge that what you were feeling was real, and not just in your imagination, you tried to note the change. The sourness faded and was replaced by a warmth. As you began to feel your cheeks flush, Sam broke the contact and took a deep breath, clearing his throat as his eyes flitted around the room for a moment. They settled on Dean.

“What’s on your agenda for today,” Sam asked, while Dean sat down next to you and put his feet up on the table.

“I was thinking of taking Y/N down to the shooting gallery and getting her training started.” Dean turned to you. “I was thinking we’d do guns this morning, then switch to hand-to-hand self-defense in the afternoon. Sound good?” You gave Dean a nervous smile and nodded.

“I’ve never handled a gun, and I’ve never thrown a punch, so I hope you’re willing to go slow at the start.” You looked at Sam questioningly as you stood up. “We okay?” Sam smiled up at you and nodded. What you were getting from him was still a muddled mix of warmth and sourness, but you decided there was nothing you could do but to believe his actions.

Your time with Dean was educational and exhausting. By the end of the day, you had managed to at least hit the target more often than not with the smaller guns, and you had learned how to throw a proper punch without breaking your hand. Dean was happy with your progress, and told you so as you were relaxing in the workout room afterwards.

“Dean, does Sam not like me or something?” The surprise evident on Dean’s face almost caused you to sit back.

“Not like you? Sammy? I wouldn’t worry about that.” Dean chuckled and shook his head. “What makes you think that?” You shook your head and looked down at the water bottle in your hand.

“Ever since Cas told me that I’m an empath, I’ve been thinking about the things I’ve felt my whole life and trying to look at things through this new, I don’t know, lens. Also, I have to admit, I’ve been taking notice of what I feel coming from you and Sam and trying to make sense of it in context, as it were.” Dean obviously looked uncomfortable at this, so you gave him a smile. “Don’t worry so much, I promise not to tell anyone anything I feel.” Dean smiled a bit, but still looked uncomfortable. “Let’s say I’m a radio, and you guys are transmitting signals to me. With you, the stations might change, or the songs might change, but the reception is clear. With Sam, it’s like I’m in a valley where no one station comes in clearly, so I’m hearing three songs playing at once through a veil of static. Sometimes, one song is louder than the others so I can identify it, but most times, it’s just a garbled mess. His actual presence is like putting all of that into a TV. I have a clear picture, but none of the sounds match up to the picture. I had a similar problem with Cas when he was doing that experiment on me. The complete lack of physical clues was disorienting, when put together with the feelings he was sending to me. The only answer I can come up with is that Sam doesn’t like me, for some reason, but is trying to be nice to me, anyway, and that’s why everything I get from him feels like…I don’t know…sour milk and lemonade.” Dean burst out laughing, but quickly controlled himself.

“Sour milk and lemonade? Really?” You chuckle and shake your head.

“You know, lemonade is nice and polite, but the rest is just lumpy, sour milk.” Dean chuckled again, but shook his head.

“I think Sam likes you just fine, he’s just the type of person who has to overthink everything. He’s always been a deep little shit, thinking a dozen things at once, which is how he can make connections no one else would make so much faster than anyone else. But when it comes to people, nothing has ever been simple with him. My guess is that whatever you’re getting is just him being the overanalyzing geek that he is.” Dean smiled, and you smiled in return. Dean cocked his head at you for a moment. “You were using a radio as an example, but is that really what it’s like? I mean, if you don’t mind my asking….” You shook your head.

“No! I don’t mind. And no, it’s not sound, it’s a feeling. It’s the same as my own feelings, just not connected to me in any way, if you know what I mean. I guess that’s why it’s always been so easy to ignore. Now that I know that it’s there, it’s easy for me to think about what I’m feeling and differentiate between what’s mine and what’s not. I told Cas I’ve always been a human lie detector for my friends, but I’m curious to see how accurate I am with people I don’t know.” You could almost see the gears working in Dean’s mind. “Got something else you want to ask me?” Dean’s face tinged pink and he smiled.

“I’ve been wondering why you offered to help Crowley. I mean, we told you he’s the King of Hell, which should have scared the crap out of you enough for you to keep quiet.” You felt the fear coming off Dean, and everything he was doing to keep calm. “You basically made a deal with the devil for a favor to be named later at his discretion. If he had wanted to, he could have kissed you right then and there and officially sealed the deal, and there was nothing we could have done about it. As it stands, you’re lucky he’s keeping it unofficial. But it brings me back to my question. What made you decide to do it?”

You took a long moment to think, and to make sure you said exactly what you meant.

“I was feeling something while the four of us sat there, and at the time, I thought it was my own feeling. I was feeling left out. Like I was an outsider, even though I knew we were talking about me and I had every right to be there. I chalked it up to being the one person at the table who wasn’t in the life.” Dean nodded and shrugged, but still listened. “As we talked, part of me just wanted to contribute to the conversation, part of me wanted to do the right thing and thank the person that saved my life, and part of me wanted to do something that would make me belong, somehow. Offering to help in any measly way I could seemed appropriate.” You paused and considered your memories of the conversation. “Now, I’m not sure that was all from me. I think part of what I was feeling I was getting from Crowley.” Dean’s eyes widened and he sat back.

“Crowley? What do you mean?”

“I mean, I think that Crowley, I don’t know, this sounds ridiculous now that I’m about to say it out loud, but I think part of Crowley wants to be accepted by you. I think he wants to help you, as long as it doesn’t go against what he thinks he has to do to keep his crown and stay alive.” The look on Dean’s face was almost comical.

“You mean, you think he wants to be besties.” Dean sighed. “Damn. Been there, done that.” It was your turn to widen your eyes and stare at Dean.

“Been there, done that? Is this going to be like Sam saying you both died, and I quote, ‘plenty of times,’ unquote?” Dean took a long drink of water from his bottle and looked down at his shoes.

“Yeah, something like that. I was a demon for a while, not too long ago. A Knight of Hell, actually. It’s a long story, but for a while, Crowley and I were howling at the moon together. I finally pissed him off enough that he turned me over to Sam, who managed to bring me back. Not my proudest moments.”

“Huh. Well, that explains the drink and his comment about it.” You decided to save for later the thoughts of what Dean being a demon really meant. Dean chuckled at your comment.

“Yeah….” Dean got quiet. You grabbed his hand in yours and squeezed it.

“Hey.” He looked up at you.

“Yeah?”

“You’re all human, now, right?” Dean nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Then no worries. Being Crowley’s bestie as a demon and being friendly as a human are two different things. Now, I don’t know how smart either choice is, I’ll leave that to you, since you have experience in the matter. It’s just something that I noticed, and hopefully an explanation as why I did something so wildly stupid. I know he’ll come asking for a favor, someday, and I can only hope it’s something easy. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. I’m still having a hard time picturing the man that sat there at the table drinking a fruity drink with a tiny umbrella as the King of Hell.” Dean chuckled.

“Right after we tried to turn him human, we kept him here in the dungeon for a while, trying to get him to help us take out demons. At one point, we took him on a little field trip to help us find something, and we were waiting in this park at night. Sam and I are sitting there on a bench, and I look over to see Crowley trying to steal candy from a vending machine!” You and Dean both start chuckling. “I just yelled at him, ‘Hey! You’re the King of Rotten! Act like it!’” Both of you were laughing out loud and clutching your sides when Sam walked in. You felt him before you saw him, the muddled waves hitting you from behind. You turned around and saw him standing in the doorway, and felt more of that sour feeling coming off of him.

“Hey, Sam,” you said, with a smile, hoping to maybe get a smile back from the handsome hunter.